Douglas Forest Protective Association

October 4, 2007
FIRE SEASON ENDS

The Douglas Forest Protective Association and Umpqua National Forest have officially called an end to fire season.  The end of the 2007 fire season comes after significant rainfall and an overall cooling trend.

Industrial fire precaution restrictions are no longer in effect and outdoor debris burning is now allowed without a permit outside incorporated cities.  Residents should contact their local fire department before conducting any burning. 

Fire managers advise residents to exercise caution when burning or using fire in the woods. This time of year, several days of sunshine and dry weather can create a fire risk even if a week or more of rainy, cool conditions precedes them. When burning yard debris, make sure to have an adequate fire trail around the pile or incinerator and never leave the burn unattended.  Should a fire escape, the property owner may be financially responsible for damages and suppression costs.  The only type of burning requiring a permit is for logging slash and heavy debris disposal burning.  Any type of tree harvesting that requires excess debris to be burned constitutes logging slash and therefore requires a permit to burn.  To request a permit for slash burning, call DFPA at 672-6507.

Campfires are now allowed with landowner permission.  Unattended campfires, a primary cause of wildfires, still have the potential of escaping.  The Umpqua National Forest and DFPA extinguished 10 fires in 2007 resulting from campfire use. Campfires need to be fully extinguished before leaving the scene. 

Overall, DFPA has suppressed 100 fires that burned 69 acres while the Umpqua National Forest had 53 fires burn just under 23 acres.

Both DFPA and the Umpqua National Forest wish to thank everyone for their cooperation in helping us throughout the fire season.