Fire Restrictions Increase Monday on Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Release Date: Jul 12, 2013
Contact: Paul Galloway, (541) 471-6755
Fire danger continues to climb and the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest will elevate the Industrial Fire Precaution Level to Level II, and implement additional public use restrictions beginning Monday, July 15, 2013 across the entire forest.
“The recent hot, dry weather has accelerated drying of the fuels in the forest, and the forecast is for this pattern to continue,” notes Assistant Fire Staff Syndy Zerr. “Our fire danger indices are continuing to climb, necessitating increasing both our industrial and public fire restrictions. These precautions, and the fire safe behavior of our industrial operators and general public, will reduce the chance of a human caused wildfire on the forest.”
Industrial Fire Precaution Level II, or “partial hoot-owl”, prohibits blasting, welding, cable yarding or the use of power saws except at loading sites from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. The restrictions apply to all contractors and permit holders, including those with permits to cut personal-use firewood.
The public use restrictions will limit campfires, smoking, off-road vehicle use, and other internal combustion engine use as follows:
- To build, maintain, attend, or use a fire on any Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest protected lands except in designated recreation sites in approved fire rings, fireplaces or stoves at those sites. Commercial stoves fired by liquid fuel or propane are permitted. The Sky Lakes Wilderness and Rogue Umpqua Divide Wilderness are exempt from this Order.
- To smoke except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a designated recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is cleared of all flammable material or while aboard a watercraft while navigating or at rest on a waterway.
- To operate an internal combustion engine except a motor vehicle operated on Forest Development Roads or within designated parking areas; and except recreational dredges must remain in the middle of the stream, remain in the water 1 hour after shut-down, never be left unattended while operating, have a certified compliant spark arrester, and shut-down by 1pm.
- Welding or operating an acetylene or other torch with open flame.
The roads and trails of the “Prospect Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Trail/Road System” are exempt from this order.
Recreation sites where fires are allowed include:
SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS RANGER DISTRICT
- Squaw Lakes Campground
- Beaver Sulphur Campground
- Hart-Tish Campground
- Watkins Campground
- Wrangle Campground
- Mckee Day Use Area
- Jackson Campground
- Carberry Campground
HIGH CASCADES RANGER DISTRICT
- Willow Prairie Campground
- Whiskey Springs Campground
- Woodruff OHV Staging Area
- Fourbit Campground
- River Bridge Campground
- Mill Creek Campground
- Abbott Creek Campground
- Natural Bridge Campground
- Union Creek Campground
- Farewell Bend Campground
- Hamaker Campground
- Woodruff Picnic Area
- Jim Creek Campground
- Fish Lake Campground
- Doe Point Campground
- North Fork Campground
- South Fork Campground
- Daley Creek Campground
- Beaver Dam Campground
- Willow Prairie Horse Camp Cabin
- Imnaha Guard Station
- Fish Lake Resort
- Union Creek Baptist Camp
- Union Creek Resort
- Lodgepole Guard Station
- Big Elk Guard Station
- Latgawa Methodist Camp
- Willow Prairie Horse Camp
- Imnaha Campground
WILD RIVERS RANGER DISTRICT
- Big Pine Campground
- Sam Brown Campground and Day Use Area
- Sam Brown Horse Camp
- Secret Creek Campsite
- Spalding Pond Campground
- Cave Creek Campground
- Bolan Lake Campground
- Cedar Camp Guard Station
- Store Gulch Campground
- River Bench Campground
- Six Mile Campground
- Little Falls Campground
- Grayback Campground and Day Use Area
GOLD BEACH RANGER DISTRICT
- Quosatana Creek Campground
- Foster Bar Campground
- Lobster Creek Campground
- Ludlum House
- Ludlum Campground
POWERS RANGER DISTRICT
- Myrtle Grove Campground
- Island Campground
- Rock Creek Campground
- Buck Creek Campground
- Sru Lake Campground
- Pioneer Campground
- Laird Lake Campground
- Eden Valley Campground
- Butler Bar Campground
- Daphne Grove Campground
- Sunshine Bar Campground
Forest visitors are encouraged to be cautious with fire while out in the woods. Frequently fire resources have to respond to unattended campfires, or campfires that aren’t completely extinguished. Fire managers ask that you put your campfire out completely. To completely extinguish a campfire, allow the fuel to burn as completely as possible. Spread the coals out within the fire pit and wait until the flames have died out. Pour water on the coals and embers in short bursts to avoid steam and ash. Repeat until there is no more steam and the hissing sound stops. Shovel dirt on top of the fire and mix it in. Stay near the fire pit until you can move your hand just above the ground without feeling any heat.
For detailed information of the public use restrictions go to: www.fs.usda.gov/rogue-siskiyou or call or visit any Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest office.