The Oregon Department of Forestry has announced that it will increase the fire danger level in southwest Oregon to "high" and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) to "2" on Monday.
This affects 1.8 million acres of state, private, county and BLM lands in Jackson and Josephine counties.
The primary difference between current fire prevention restrictions and those beginning on Monday affects the public use of power-driven machinery such as chainsaws, mowers, weed-eaters and more. The use of this equipment and the cutting, grinding and welding of metal along with other spark-emitting equipment like wood-splitters and generators will be prohibited between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.. This does not apply to the mowing of green lawns.
All other fire prevention regulations will remain in effect including no outdoor debris burning, no fireworks within 1/8th of a mile of ODF-protected lands, and no exploding targets or tracer ammunition.
Campfires are allowed only in designated campgrounds. Portable stoves or fire pits using liquefied or bottled fuels may be used in locations that are free of flammable vegetation. All motorized vehicles are allowed only on improved roads. Smoking while traveling will only be allowed in enclosed vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water and other specifically designated locations.
IFPL 2 is a limited shutdown, which is entirely separate from all public fire restrictions. Power saws, feller-bunchers, cable yarding, blasting, and the welding, cutting or grinding of metal can occur after 8 p.m. and up until 1 p.m. daily.
For more information about current fire season restrictions, visit "swofire.com."
