July 22, 2022 4:00 a.m. 

Staff with the Umpqua National Forest has increased the fire danger level to High with Public Use Restrictions now in place on all ranger districts.

Christopher Bentley of the UNF said the mild weather during the start of summer, along with precipitation through June and July, has facilitated lower fire danger so far this season. Bentley said however, these conditions have also led to an increased fine fuel loading, which are the primary driver of fires. In addition, a heatwave is forecast to migrate into the Pacific Northwest over the weekend and into next week.

Bentley said a combination of daytime temperatures well into the 90s, heat persisting into the night, and the abundance of fine fuels will create conditions where fires have the potential to spread quickly.

Fire Management Specialist Sara Billings said, “With several abandoned campfires in dispersed sites over the last few weekends along with the hotter and drier weather, our intent is to mitigate the opportunity for one of those fires to become a wildfire by going into a PUR Level 1”.

A release said the UNF asks visitors to familiarize themselves with what the current public use restrictions mean for their recreational activities:

*Campfires are only allowed in designated campfire rings in designated campgrounds. Rock personally made campfire rings are only acceptable in wilderness areas

*No smoking is allowed outside of personal vehicles. Cigarette butts are not to be tossed outside of vehicles

*Motorized vehicles, including off-highway-vehicles, are only allowed on official designated roads

*Use of generators is restricted to designated areas only

Go to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/umpqua/fire for the latest fire restriction information.