Umpqua National Forest

Fire Danger Rises on Umpqua National Forest

Contact: Cheryl Caplan, (541) 957-3270

ROSEBURG, OR – September 12, 2008 – Due to continued warm weather and low humidity levels, fire officials on the Umpqua National Forest are compelled to elevate the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) to III, effective Monday, September 15, and put into effect Public-Use Restrictions (Closure Order 76 KB PDF), effective immediately.

Under IFPL III, all firewood cutting on the Umpqua National Forest is prohibited.

Under IFPL III, industrial operators are prohibited from performing the following:

• Cable yarding – exception: gravity-operated logging systems with non-motorized carriages may operate between 8 p.m. and 1 p.m. when all blocks and moving lines are suspended 10 feet above ground except the line between the carriage and the chokers;
• Power saws – exception: power saws may be used at loading sites and at tractor skidder operations between 8 p.m. and 1 p.m.

In addition, the following are permitted between 8 p.m. and 1 p.m.:

• Tractor, skidder, feller-buncher, forwarder, or shovel logging operations where tractors, skidders, or other equipment with a blade capable of constructing fireline are immediately available to quickly reach and effectively attack a fire start;
• Mechanized loading or hauling of any product or material;
• Blasting;
• Welding or cutting of metal;
• Any other spark emitting operation not specifically mentioned.

Public-use restrictions prohibit building, maintaining, tending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire outside of designated recreation sites such as campgrounds, lookouts and trailheads. Liquefied and bottle gas stoves and heaters may be used for cooking and heating.

Smoking is only allowed within enclosed vehicles, buildings, developed recreation sites, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.

Under the restrictions, motorized travel off developed Forest roads and trails is not allowed, except for the purpose of going to and from a campsite located within 300 feet of the adjacent open developed road.

Operating an internal combustion engine, such as chainsaws and generators, is also restricted. Motors on watercraft, dredging within streams and the use of generators is permitted in developed recreation sites.

Welding or operating acetylene or other torches with open flame is restricted.

For more information, including a list of the designated recreation sites where campfires are permitted, visit www.fs.fed.us/r6/umpqua or call 541-672-6601.

Designated Recreation Sites

Cottage Grove Ranger District

• Hobo Camp
• Cedar Creek
• Lund Park
• Mineral
• Rujada
• Musick Guard Station

Diamond Lake Ranger District

• Broken Arrow
• Clearwater Falls
• Diamond Lake Campground
• Diamond Lake RV Park
• East Lemolo Campground
• Lemolo RV Park
• Poole Creek
• South Shore Picnic Area
• Theilsen View
• Whitehorse Falls
• Toketee Campground

North Umpqua Ranger District

• Apple Creek
• Bogus Creek
• Boulder Flat
• Canton Creek
• Coolwater
• Eagle Rock
• Hemlock Lake
• Hemlock Meadows
• Steamboat Ballfield & Pavilion
• Horseshoe Bend
• Island
• Lake-in-the-Woods
• Steamboat Falls
• White Creek
• Wolf Creek

Tiller Ranger District

• Ash Flats Industrial Camp
• Beaver Swamp Trailhead
• Black Canyon Industrial Camp
• Boulder Creek Campground
• Camp Comfort Campground
• Cover Campground
• Devils Flat Campground
• Pickett Butte Lookout
• South Umpqua Falls Picnic Area
• South Umpqua Falls Group Camp
• Falcon Industrial Camp
• Railroad Gap Shelter
• Butler Butte Guard Station
• Skookum Pond Forest Camp
• Whisky Camp Guard Station
• Fish Lake Trailhead
• Skillet Creek Industrial Camp
• Skimmerhorn Trailhead
• Three C Rock Picnic Area
• Threehorn Campground
• Cripple Camp Trailhead
• Beaver Creek Trailhead-Morejohn Camp
• Mud Lake Shelter
• Buckhead Mtn. Forest Camp
• Cow Creek Trailhead
• Devil's Flat Guard Station
• Acker Divide Trailhead

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USDA Forest Service - Umpqua National Forest
Last Modified: Friday, 12 September 2008 at 18:26:42 EDT