The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) will tighten fire
prevention rules starting June 19 in northwestern Oregon, including the
Tillamook and Clatsop State Forests, and private lands in the Northwest Oregon
Forest Protective Association.
“In order to keep communities safe and avoid wildfire risk,
we’ll begin restrictions on public use of the forest on Friday. These
restrictions ban fireworks, exploding targets, campfires outside of designated
locations, and other fire-prone activities,” said Mike Cafferata, ODF District
Forester. “These restrictions respond to the extremely dry conditions we’re
experiencing and to the Sunset Grade Fire, which we believe was started by one
of these activities last weekend.”
The following restrictions on activities in the forest will
apply starting June 19:
·
Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in
closed vehicles on improved roads.
·
Open fires are prohibited, including campfires,
charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, except at designated
locations. Use of wood-burning devices, used in conjunction with temporary
dwellings, including tents and trailers, is prohibited. Portable cooking stoves
using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed.
·
Use of motor vehicles, including motorcycles and
all-terrain vehicles, is prohibited, except on improved roads and designated
areas.
·
Possession of the following firefighting
equipment is required while traveling, except on state highways, county roads
and driveways: one shovel and one gallon of water or one operational 2-½ pound
or larger fire extinguisher.
·
Use of fireworks is prohibited.
·
Use of exploding targets is prohibited.
·
Cutting, grinding and welding of metal is
prohibited.
