Visitors Reminded to be ‘Fire Safe’ on the Siuslaw National Forest

Release Date: Jun 16, 2015

Contact(s): Lisa Romano, Paul Meznarich

With persistently warm and dry weather on the Oregon Coast this spring, Siuslaw National Forest officials have raised the Forest’s fire danger level to “moderate” and are reminding visitors to be mindful of fire safety this summer.

“Although we’re not as prone to wildfires as National Forests in arid regions, the Siuslaw National Forest does have a history of wildfires,” said Dan Eddy, fire management officer. “Steep slopes and thick layers of organic material on the ground can provide opportunities for wildfires to grow and spread quickly.”

The majority of fires on the Siuslaw National Forest are human-caused, Eddy said.

“Of the 15 recorded incidents we had last year, 14 of them were determined to be human-caused,” he said, citing escaped campfires as the leading cause.

No fire restrictions for the public are in place, but visitors are asked to exercise caution when visiting natural areas:

1. Keep campfires small and in an area cleared down to mineral soil
2. Only burn materials that fit within the campfire ring
3. Be mindful of overhanging vegetation or limbs
4. Extinguish all campfires before leaving – even if gone for a short period of time
5. Smoke inside vehicles or in areas cleared at least 4 square feet wide

Fireworks, including sparklers, are prohibited on National Forests.

All fires or unsafe use of fires by visitors should be reported to the Coastal Valley Interagency Dispatch Center at 541-750-7024 or by calling 911. Additional campfire and wildfire safety information can be found at www.smokeybear.com.