August 18, 2023 3:50 a.m. 

The Umpqua National Forest has increased the Fire Danger Rating to Extreme across all districts of the forest.

A UNF release said this is in addition to the increase in Public Use Restrictions to Level 3 that took place Thursday. On Monday, the Industrial Fire Precaution Level increased to Level 4. These restrictions are continuously reassessed and could lower as conditions dictate.

UNF said fire management is a balance between not impacting public use of the forest while also limiting the potential for human-caused fire starts based on the conditions of the forest. Fire managers take four primary factors into consideration when predicting the fire danger rating: fuels, weather, topography and risks. The release said these factors along with the forecasted Northwest Coordination Center 7-Day Significant Fire Potential Outlook allow fire managers to determine the fire danger status.

When fire danger is extreme, fires of all types start quickly and burn intensely.

Learn more about fire management on the Umpqua National Forest at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/umpqua/fire