August 1, 2020 8:00 a.m.

The Umpqua National Forest is raising the fire danger level from moderate to high on Sunday.

Mark Turney of the Forest Service said indices show increasingly hot, dry conditions in the forecast and an influx of forest visitors recreating on the forest.

Umpqua National Forest Deputy Fire Management Staff Officer Terri Brown said the area has had a lot of hot dry weather which has dried out the fuels on the forest with no rain in the forecast. She said “That combined with the number of visitors we have seen this summer leads us to raise the fire danger levels”.

A UNF release said each year fire officials see a spike in human-caused unattended campfires, fireworks, dragging tow chains, driving on dry grass and dumping of hot ashes and barbecue coals. This year 86 percent of all wildfires in Oregon have been human caused.

The forest remains at a Personal Use Restriction level 1.

Go to www.smokeybear.com for wildfire prevention tips.