Drying fuels and increased fire danger has prompted the Douglas Forest Protective Association and the Bureau of Land Management to implement Public Use Restrictions throughout the entire Douglas District, effective June 28TH, 2019, at 12:01 a.m. These fire prevention measures will be in place on all 1.6 million acres of private, county, state, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Indian Affairs lands that are protected by DFPA, this includes all areas within Douglas County Fire District #2.
While the Public Use Restriction do not prohibit public access to the forest, they do restrict certain fire prone activities which are known to start wildfires. Under the Public Use Restrictions, the following provisions are set to help prevent wildfires:
· Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water, and at other designated locations.
· Open fires are prohibited, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, except at designated sites. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed elsewhere.
Designated sites include:
BLM designated sites: Cavitt Creek Falls Recreation Site, Eagleview Group Campground, Millpond / Lone Pine Recreation Site, Rock Creek Recreation Site, Scaredman Recreation Site, Susan Creek Campground and Tyee Recreation Area.
Douglas County Park’s designated sites: Amacher Park, Douglas County Fairgrounds, Pass Creek Campground, Stanton Park, Chief Miwaleta Campground, and Whistler’s Bend Campground.
Other designated sites: Seven Feathers RV Resort and Umpqua Riverfront RV Park & Boat Ramp.
· The use of fireworks are prohibited.
· Motor vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, are only allowed on improved roads free of flammable vegetation, except for the culture and harvest of agricultural crops. In addition, each vehicle traveling on forest roads must have an axe, shovel and one gallon of water or one operational 2½ pound or larger fire extinguisher. All-terrain vehicles and motorcycles must be equipped with one operational 2 ½ pound or larger fire extinguisher.
· Any electric fence controller in use shall be listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory or be certified by the Department of Consumer and Business Services and be operated in compliance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
The official fire danger for the Douglas District can be found online at www.dfpa.net or on this website on the left column or by calling DFPA’s 24 hour information line at (541) 672-0379 and applies to the following restrictions.
· The use of non-industrial power saws are allowed all day during LOW fire danger. This activity is permitted before 1:00 p.m. or after 8:00 p.m. during MODERATE fire danger and before 10:00 a.m. or after 8:00 p.m. during HIGH fire danger. During Extreme fire danger, non-industrial power saw use is prohibited. Each power saw is required to have one shovel and one fire extinguisher of at least 8 ounce capacity. In addition, a fire watch is required for at least one hour following the use of each saw. On BLM managed lands in the Roseburg and Coos Bay Districts, the use of non-industrial power saws or other equipment with internal combustion engines used for felling, bucking, skidding, or wood cutting is prohibited unless a permit has been issued.
· The cutting, grinding or welding of metal for non-industrial purposes is allowed all day during LOW fire danger. This activity is permitted before 1:00 p.m. or after 8:00 p.m. during MODERATE fire danger and before 10:00 a.m. or after 8:00 p.m. during HIGH fire danger. During EXTREME fire danger, the cutting, grinding or welding of metal is prohibited. These activities can only be conducted in a cleared area, free of flammable vegetation and a charged garden hose or one 2 ½ pound or larger fire extinguisher must be immediately available. The cutting, grinding or welding of metal is prohibited on BLM managed lands in the Roseburg and Coos Bay Districts.
· The cutting, trimming or mowing of dried, cured grass is allowed all day during LOW fire danger. This activity is permitted before 1:00 p.m. or after 8:00 p.m. during MODERATE fire danger and before 10:00 a.m. or after 8:00 p.m. during HIGHfire danger. During Extreme fire danger, the cutting, trimming or mowing of dried or cured grass is prohibited. The culture and harvest of agricultural crops is exempt from this requirement.
· Any non-industrial improvement or development taking place on private property that utilizes power driven machinery may operate all day during LOW fire danger. These activities are permitted before 1:00 p.m. or after 8:00 p.m. during MODERATE fire danger and before 10:00 a.m. or after 8 p.m. during HIGH fire danger. During EXTREME fire danger, these activities are prohibited unless a waiver has been issued. Each piece of power driven machinery working is required to have one shovel and one 2 ½ pound or larger fire extinguisher. In addition, a fire watch is required for at least one hour once the equipment has completed work for the day.
In addition to the Public Use Restrictions, the use of exploding targets and tracer ammunition are prohibited within the Douglas District during fire season and the use sky lanterns are prohibited year-round in Oregon. Backyard debris burning, including the use of burn barrels, remains prohibited. Additional fire restrictions or closures may be in place through private industrial landowners or other public land management agencies on the lands they own or manage. See Link for DFPA’s helpful color guide.