The rain has driven the fire danger level and industrial fire precaution level to “low” and level one.
“I am filling out the paperwork right now to go to IFPL one and low fire danger,” said Craig Pettinger, Oregon Department of Forestry Sweet Home Unit forester, Monday afternoon. The designations took effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.
“We’re doing it just for the lands in Linn County,” Pettinger said. “We got enough rain, we wanted to let the guys get back out to work in the woods.”
So far this season, the Sweet Home Unit has responded to about 61 fire calls, Pettinger said. Of those, 12 have been “stat” fires, which are calls where firefighters take significant action.
The Sweet Home area is supposed “to get pretty wet” Sunday and Monday, Pettinger said. “I don’t know if it’s going to be enough to knock us all the way out of (fire) season, but if the forecast holds, it’s going to be a punch in the arm.”
At this point, regulated use remains in effect at the low fire danger level.
Restrictions include the following:
– No debris burning;
– Smoking in designated locations, vehicles on improved roads and boats in the water;
– Campfires in designated locations only;
– Portable cooking stoves using liquified fuels OK are permitted;
– No fireworks;
– No exploding targets, tracer ammunition or sky lanterns;
– Equip each power saw with a shovel and fire extinguisher or gallon of water;
– Provide a 1-hour fire watch after the use of each power saw;
– Cutting, welding or grinding must be done in a clear area with a water supply;
– Electric fences must be UL approved;
– No off-road driving; and
– All vehicles must have a shovel and fire extinguisher or gallon of water. ATV’s and motorcycles must be equipped with a fire extinguisher.