Crews Respond to Natural Cover Fire Outside Riddle Thursday

Crews from the Douglas Forest Protective Association and Riddle Rural Fire Department responded to a natural cover fire Thursday afternoon around 3:20 PM that was located near the 4,100 block of Riddle By-Pass Road. The incident, named the 41 Fire, was reported to be a half-acre in size upon the arrival. Firefighters stopped the forward spread of the 41 Fire at three-quarters of an acre of grass and brush. A preliminary fire investigation indicated that the cause of the 41 Fire may have been related to an escaped debris burn. Additional personnel and equipment from the Myrtle Creek Rural Fire Department, Tri-City Rural Fire Department, and the Canyonville – South Umpqua Rural Fire Department also responded to the incident. Fire Season Fire season on the Douglas District officially begins Friday, May 28th at 12:01 AM. The fire danger will be set at LOW and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level will be IFPL I (one). During Low fire danger, the following Public Use Restrictions are in effect: • Smoking is prohibited in wildland areas except at designated locations. • Open fires are prohibited, including campfires, cooking fires, and warming fires, except at designated sites. Charcoal and pellet BBQs are allowed at residential home sites that are fully developed, landscaped, and maintained when used in a cleared area free of flammable vegetation. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed elsewhere. • Electrical fence controllers in use must be listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory or be certified by the Department of Consumer and Business Services and be operated in compliance with the manufacturer’s instructions. • Off road driving is only allowed on private property with landowner permission. Elsewhere, vehicles are required to stay on improved roads that are free of flammable vegetation. Each vehicle traveling in wildland areas is required to have a shovel, an axe, and a gallon of water or a 2 ½ pound or larger ABC fire extinguisher. • The use of fireworks, exploding targets, tracer ammunition, and sky lanterns is prohibited. • Backyard debris burning, including both debris piles and burn barrels is prohibited. For a detailed list of public or industrial fire restrictions, visit www.dfpa.net or call DFPA’s 24-hour information line at 541-672-0379. Via DFPA