August 13, 2020 4:00 a.m.

The Douglas Forest Protective Association will increase the fire danger to “Extreme” beginning on Friday.

Kyle Reed of DFPA said the change applies to all 1.6 million acres of land protected by the agency within the Douglas District. The Industrial Fire Precaution Level remains at IFPL 3.

Reed said during extreme fire danger, these activities are prohibited under DFPA’s Public Use Restrictions:

*The use of power saws for non-industrial purposes is prohibited.

*The cutting, grinding, or welding of metal for non-industrial purposes is prohibited.

*The cutting, mowing or trimming of dead or dry grass is prohibited. The restriction does not apply to the mowing of green lawns, which is not restricted.

*Any non-industrial improvement or development taking place on private property that utilizes power driven machinery not specifically mentioned in DFPA’s Public Use Restrictions are prohibited.

Reed said DFPA’s Public Use Restrictions remain in effect and are unchanged:

*Smoking is prohibited in wildland areas, except in vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water, or at other designated sites.

*Open fires are prohibited, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, except at designated sites. In other locations, portable cooking stoves using liquified or bottled fuels are allowed.

*Debris burning, including the use of burn barrels, remains prohibited.

*The use of fireworks is prohibited.

*Motor vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles are only allowed on improved roads free of flammable vegetation, except for the culture and harvest of agricultural crops.

In addition to DFPA’s Public Use Restrictions, state laws prohibit the use of exploding targets and tracer ammunition during a declared fire season. The use of sky lanterns is prohibited year-round in Oregon.

For complete information on DFPA’s Public Use Restrictions, go to www.dfpa.net or call DFPA’s 24-hour information line at 672-0379.