Fire season in the Douglas District officially begins at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, May 30, according to the Douglas Forest Protective Association. The declaration covers all private, county, state, and Bureau of Indian Affairs land in the district and imposes restrictions on burning, smoking, vehicle use, and a range of outdoor activities.

Public use restrictions will start at the low level, the least restrictive tier, but one that still bans backyard debris burning, burn barrels, fireworks, exploding targets, tracer ammunition, sky lanterns, and most open fires. Sky lanterns are prohibited year-round in Oregon. Smoking while traveling is prohibited except inside vehicles on improved roads, on boats, or at other designated locations.

Campfires, cooking fires, and warming fires are allowed only at designated sites. Those include six Douglas County Parks locations: Amacher Park, Douglas County Fairgrounds, Pass Creek Campground, Stanton Park, Chief Miwaleta Campground, and Whistler’s Bend Campground. Two private campgrounds are also designated: Seven Feathers RV Resort and Umpqua Riverfront RV Park and Boat Ramp.

Charcoal and pellet BBQs may be used only at fully developed and maintained residential home sites in areas clear of flammable vegetation, with a charged garden hose or fire extinguisher of at least 2½ pounds on hand. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed elsewhere.

Any electric fence controller in use must be listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory or certified by the Department of Consumer and Business Services and operated according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Activity Restrictions Tied to Fire Danger Level

Several outdoor activities are governed by the official daily fire danger rating, which can shift as conditions change. At the current low level, non-industrial power saw use, metal cutting and welding, mowing of dried grass, operation of power-driven machinery on private property, and fuel-powered generator use are all permitted throughout the day. At moderate fire danger, those activities are restricted to before 1:00 p.m. or after 8:00 p.m. At high fire danger, the window narrows to before 10:00 a.m. or after 8:00 p.m. At extreme fire danger, non-industrial power saw use, metal work, and mowing are prohibited outright. Power-driven machinery and generators are also prohibited at extreme unless a waiver has been issued.

Generators at residential homesites used in cleared areas free of flammable vegetation are exempt from time restrictions.

Each power saw must have a shovel and a fire extinguisher of at least 8-ounce capacity nearby, and a one-hour fire watch is required after use. Each piece of power-driven machinery on private property must also have a shovel and a 2½ pound or larger fire extinguisher, with a one-hour fire watch required after work ends for the day. Metal work must take place in an area free of flammable vegetation with a hose or extinguisher available.

Motor vehicles, motorcycles, and ATVs are restricted to improved roads free of flammable vegetation, though this restriction is waived on private lands during low fire danger and for vehicles used in the culture and harvest of agricultural crops. Vehicles with three or more wheels on forest roads must carry an axe, a shovel, and either one gallon of water or a 2½ pound fire extinguisher. Motorcycles require a gallon of water or an extinguisher.

The agricultural use of motor vehicles on unimproved roads for tending livestock is permitted all day during low fire danger, with tighter time windows at higher danger levels. During extreme fire danger, this use is permitted only if the relative humidity in the work area is above 30%. Those vehicles must be operated where exhaust will not contact flammable vegetation, must be well maintained and free of debris buildup, and must carry an axe, a shovel, and one gallon of water or a 2.5-pound fire extinguisher. ATVs used for this purpose require a 2.5-pound fire extinguisher.

Industrial Regulations Also Take Effect

The fire season declaration simultaneously triggers Industrial Fire Precaution Level 1 across regulated use areas DG-1, DG-2, UA-1, and UA-2, including all forestland within one-eighth of a mile. Under that level, smoking is banned at industrial operations, specified fire tools and suppression equipment must be on site and ready for use, and a fire watch is required after work ends for the day.

Restrictions for the Umpqua National Forest and Roseburg District BLM lands have not yet been set. Those agencies will assess and announce their own public use restrictions separately. Information on Umpqua National Forest restrictions is available at fs.usda.gov/main/umpqua/fire, and BLM restrictions can be found at blm.gov/orwafire.

The current fire danger level for the Douglas District is posted at dfpa.net and on the DFPA’s 24-hour information line at 541-672-0379.

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