Industrial Fire Precaution Level Increasing

LAKEVIEW, Ore. – Fire managers from South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership have increased Industrial Fire Precaution Levels to two for all Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and Fish and Wildlife Service lands within the SCOFMP footprint, effective Wednesday, July 11.

The decision to increase the IFPL was made based on current temperatures, relative humidity and fuel levels, and projected worsening conditions over the next week.

For public safety, the designation of IFPL two restricts the following industrial operations to only between the hours of 8 p.m. and 1 p.m. local time (ie afternoon usage restricted):

Ø  Power saws, except at loading sites.

Ø  Cable yarding.

Ø  Blasting.

Ø  Welding or cutting of metal.

Existing industrial restrictions already in place remain in effect. Keep track of IFPL levels at the SCOFMP website: https://scofmp.org/ifpls.shtml.

Additional public restrictions already in place are as follows:

Ø  Regulated Use Closures already in place restrict, on state, county and private lands protected by the Klamath-Lake District ODF and Walker Range FPA, the following activities:

ü  Smoking in wildland areas is permitted only in enclosed vehicles on roads

ü  Camping, cooking or warming fires prohibited, except in following designated locations:

                                                              i.      Klamath County: Collier State Park, Kimball State Park and Hagelstein Park (county).

                                                            ii.      Lake County: Goose Lake State Park.

Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels permitted at all other locations.

ü  Off road driving and motorized vehicles on un-improved roads is prohibited.

ü  Use of fireworks is prohibited (ie any combustible or explosive device or any other article which was prepared for the purpose of providing a visible or audible effect by combustion, explosion, deflagration or detonation, including firecrackers, fountains, skyrockets, snakes and sparklers).

ü  Possession of a full size axe, shovel and 2 ½ pound fire extinguisher or filled gallon water container is required while traveling in a motorized vehicle, except on state and county roads.

ü  Debris burning.

ü  Also prohibited between the hours of 1 p.m. and 8 p.m.:

                                                        i.            Non-industrial chain saw use.

                                                      ii.            Cutting, grinding and welding of metal on forested lands.

ü  Release of sky lanterns.

ü  Discharge of exploding targets or tracer ammunition.

Keep track of restrictions and closures emplaced by Oregon Department of Forestry on their website: https://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Fire/Pages/Restrictions.aspx.

There are currently no public use restrictions on federal lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, or National Park Service, so charcoal grills, propane stoves and campfires are allowed. Campgrounds with existing fire rings are recommended for use and visitors are reminded to monitor fires at all times and make sure they’re completely out and cold to the touch, before leaving. Visitors and residents are reminded that fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices are prohibited year round, regardless of weather conditions or holidays. This includes smaller devices like sparklers and poppers which still have to potential to start a fire.

Community safety and that of our firefighters is the number one priority for all SCOFMP employees.

Get our most recent updates online at https://scofmp.blogspot.com/, on Facebook at facebook.com/SCOFMPFireInfo and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/scofmpfireinfo.

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