As hunters gear up for the opening weekend of bow season, fire officials with the Douglas Forest Protective Association are asking hunters and other forest users to know the current fire restrictions before heading to the woods. DFPA’s Public Use Restrictions, which went into effect June 28th, either restrict or prohibit high risk fire activities which could easily start a new wildfire.
Under DFPA’s Public Use Restrictions, smoking is prohibited in wildland areas, except inside vehicles. Open fires are prohibited, including campfires, cooking fires, and warming fires, except in designated campgrounds. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed elsewhere.
DFPA’s Public Use Restrictions also restrict vehicle use in wildland areas. All vehicles, including dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles that are traveling in wildland areas must have a good working exhaust system and stay on improved roads that are free of flammable vegetation. Off road driving and trail riding, is prohibited. In addition, each vehicle must be equipped with an axe, a shovel, and a gallon of water or a 2.5 pound or larger fire extinguisher.
Other activities that are currently restricted or prohibited include the use of non-industrial power saws, fireworks, tracer ammunition, exploding targets, and sky lanterns.
In addition to DFPA’s Public Use Restrictions, industrial landowners and public land management agencies may have additional fire restrictions or closures on the lands they own or manage. Hunters and other forest users are advised to check with the proper landowners or public land management agencies for the places they wish to hunt or recreate on, before heading to the woods.
A list of private industrial landowner closures can be found online at http://www.ofic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/2019-OFIC-Closure-Form-1.pdf
A list of BLM specific fire restrictions can be found online at www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions
For a complete list of DFPA’s Public Use Restrictions, visit www.dfpa.net/public-fire-restrictions or call DFPA’s information line at (541) 672-0379.
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