June 11, 2020 9:30 a.m.
Staff with the Douglas Forest Protective Association, the Umpqua National Forest, and the Bureau of Land Management has announced that the 2020 fire season will officially begin next Monday, June 15th.
A release said that includes all private, county, state, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Indian Affairs lands within the Douglas District, in addition to public lands within the Umpqua National Forest.
The declaration of fire season imposes certain fire restrictions on both the general public and industrial operators to help prevent wildfires.
Starting Monday, the DFPA and the Roseburg District of the BLM will implement Public Use Restrictions as well. The Umpqua National Forest went to Level 1 Public Use Restrictions on June 1st. While that does not prohibit public access to the forest, it does restrict certain fire prone activities which are known to start wildfires. Beginning Monday:
*Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water, and at other designated locations
*Backyard debris burning, including the use of burn barrels, is prohibited
*Open fires are prohibited, except at designated sites. Portable cooking stoves using liquified or bottled fuels are allowed elsewhere. Propane fueled campfire devices are permitted on national forest lands.
BLM designated sites: Susan Creek Campground, Tyee Campground, Millpond Campground, and Cavitt Creek Campground
Douglas County Parks designated sites: Amacher Park, Douglas County Fairgrounds, Pass Creek Campground, Stanton Park, Chief Miwaleta Campground and Whistler’s Bend Campground
Private Campgrounds: Seven Feathers RV Resort and Umpqua Riverfront RV Park and Boat Ramp
Umpqua National Forest Sites: Rujada, Boulder Flat, Toketee Lake and Pool Creek campgrounds
*The use of fireworks is prohibited
*Motor vehicles, including motorcycles and all terrain vehicles are only allowed on improved roads that are free of flammable vegetation, except for the culture and harvest of agricultural crops.
In addition, the use of exploding targets and tracer ammunition are prohibited during a declared fire season.
On Monday, the entire Douglas District and the Umpqua National Forest will go to Industrial Fire Precaution Level 1. During IFPL1, smoking is prohibited while working on, or traveling through an industrial operation. In addition, specified fire tools and suppression equipment must be on site and ready for use at all industrial operations and a fire watch is required once work has completed for the day.
For more information about the restrictions, go to www.dfpa.net or check the websites of the other agencies mentioned.