Fifteen strike teams comprised of members of the Oregon fire service arrived in California today and have been assigned to assist with separate wildfire incidents threatening structures and property.

Following a late afternoon briefing with California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection officials in Redding, California, Oregon’s strike teams are being deployed to two separate incidents.

One group, comprised of six strike teams, headed by Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple, of the Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM), is being sent to the Burris Fire, a 250-acre fire in Mendocino County.

The second group, comprised of nine teams, headed by Assistant Chief Les Hallman of Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, has been assigned to respond to the larger Kincaid Fire in Sonoma County.

The mobilized strike teams, comprising 271 personnel total, have been sent from the following counties: Klamath, Douglas, Yamhill, Linn, Columbia, Clatsop, Benton, Multnomah, Marion, Washington, Clackamas, Lincoln, Jackson, Josephine, and Lane Counties.

All teams from Oregon should be arriving at their staging areas around midnight tonight.

The OSFM mobilized the teams following a request through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) from California. The request allows for the OSFM to mobilize resources through the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System (OFMAS). The teams are comprised of Oregon’s structural firefighting agencies, which provide structural firefighting and all-hazards assistance.

The current deployment marks the third year in a row that the OSFM has mobilized strike teams through the OFMAS and deployed them to support firefighting efforts in California, following requests made through the EMAC.

In 2018, the OSFM sent three strike teams to the Mendocino Complex Fire starting in late July 2018, and then another 15 strike teams to the Camp Fire in November 2018. In October 2018, also through an EMAC request, the OSFM sent two incident management teams to Florida to respond to Hurricane Michael.

In November 2017, the OSFM mobilized 15 strike teams to respond to an EMAC request from California to fight wildfires. In December 2017, California sent another request for assistance on the Thomas Fire, near Ventura. The OSFM sent 15 strike teams in response.

Fire officials with the Douglas Forest Protective Agency (DFPA) will officially end fire season within the Douglas District on Monday, September 23rd, at 12:01AM. The end of fire season is a result of significant rainfall and an overall cooling trend which returned to the area.

With the end of fire season, industrial fire restrictions on DFPA protected land will no longer be in effect. DCFD#2 will allow backyard debris burning without a permit. Local burning regulations must be followed at all times.

Despite fire season coming to an end, fire officials advise residents to exercise caution when burning or using fire in the woods. Several days of sunshine and dry weather during the fall months can create a fire risk even if a week or more of rainy, cool conditions precede them. When burning yard debris, make sure to have an adequate fire trail around the pile before ignition begins and have fire tools and a water supply at the burn site. Burning may only be conducted during daylight hours, must be attended by a responsible adult and must not be left unattended. Burn piles must be fully extinguished before leaving the area. If a debris burn escapes containment, the responsible party may be held financially responsible for the resulting fire suppression costs and associated damages.

Despite fire season coming to an end, private industrial landowners and public land management agencies may still have fire restrictions in place on lands that they own or manage. Recreationalists should check with appropriate landowner or public land management agency for the location they plan to recreate at, before heading to the woods. A list of fire restrictions for private industrial landowners can be found online here.

DPFA’s 2019 fire season began on June 11th and lasted 104 days, which ranks 5th in the Association’s 108 year history for the fewest days in a declared fire season.

To date, firefighters have suppressed 101 fires which burned 13,445 acres within the Douglas District. Lightning sparked 34 wildfires that burned about 15 acres while 67 human caused fires scorched 13,430 acres, the largest of which was the Milepost 97 fire that was caused by an illegal campfire.

FIRE SEASON REMAINS IN EFFECT

In keeping consistent with our partner agencies, Douglas County Fire District No. 2 will begin issuing burn permits free of charge for back yard debris burning within DCFD #2 service area. Burn permits will require an onsite inspection from a representative of DCFD #2 prior to being issued.

Burn permits will only be issued for small debris piles consisting of yard debris only. No permits will be issued for burn barrels or industrial logging slash. As always, burning of materials such as garbage, tires, plastic, rubber or any other material that normally emits dense smoke and/or noxious odors are and always will be prohibited. Burn permits do not waive the landowner’s liability should a burn escape containment, and permit holder can be held liable for fire suppression costs and damages resulting from an escaped debris burn, unattended burning or negligence.

Preparation for a burn, a fire trail must be created around the burn site, down to mineral soil. At a minimum, the permit will require individuals burning to have a shovel and a charged garden hose on site and available during burning. An adult must be present the entire time the burn is taking place, the burn must be completely extinguished prior to leaving, and permits are issued to property owners only, not tenants or renters. To request a burn permit from DCFD #2, stop by the station in your area between 8am-4:30pm or call (541) 673-5503 during those same hours.

Individuals found to be burning prohibited materials may be issued a citation or subject to further fines from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

Residents who reside outside of Douglas County Fire District #2 district boundaries should contact their local fire department regarding the current burning restrictions in those areas.

Douglas County Fire District No. 2 has extended the application period for entry and lateral Firefighter/Paramedic to September 23, 2019. Please see our “Job Openings” tab at the top of the page for more information about the job posting and application or use this Link.

Drying fuels and increased fire danger has prompted the Douglas Forest Protective Association and the Bureau of Land Management to implement Public Use Restrictions throughout the entire Douglas District, effective June 28^TH, 2019, at 12:01 a.m.  These fire prevention measures will be in place on all 1.6 million acres of private, county, state, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Indian Affairs lands that are protected by DFPA, this includes all areas within Douglas County Fire District #2.

While the Public Use Restriction do not prohibit public access to the forest, they do restrict certain fire prone activities which are known to start wildfires.  Under the Public Use Restrictions, the following provisions are set to help prevent wildfires:

·   Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water, and at other designated locations.

·   Open fires are prohibited, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, except at designated sites.  Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed elsewhere. 

Designated sites include:

BLM designated sites: Cavitt Creek Falls Recreation Site, Eagleview Group Campground, Millpond / Lone Pine Recreation Site, Rock Creek Recreation Site, Scaredman Recreation Site, Susan Creek Campground and Tyee Recreation Area.

Douglas County Park’s designated sites:  Amacher Park, Douglas County Fairgrounds, Pass Creek Campground, Stanton Park, Chief Miwaleta Campground, and Whistler’s Bend Campground.

Other designated sites:  Seven Feathers RV Resort and Umpqua Riverfront RV Park & Boat Ramp.

·   The use of fireworks are prohibited. 

·   Motor vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, are only allowed on improved roads free of flammable vegetation, except for the culture and harvest of agricultural crops.  In addition, each vehicle traveling on forest roads must have an axe, shovel and one gallon of water or one operational 2½ pound or larger fire extinguisher.  All-terrain vehicles and motorcycles must be equipped with one operational 2 ½ pound or larger fire extinguisher.

·   Any electric fence controller in use shall 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.

The official fire danger for the Douglas District can be found online at www.dfpa.net or on this website on the left column or by calling DFPA’s 24 hour information line at (541) 672-0379 and applies to the following restrictions.

·   The use of non-industrial power saws are allowed all day during LOW fire danger.  This activity is permitted before 1:00 p.m. or after 8:00 p.m. during MODERATE fire danger and before 10:00 a.m. or after 8:00 p.m. during HIGH fire danger. During Extreme fire danger, non-industrial power saw use is prohibited.  Each power saw is required to have one shovel and one fire extinguisher of at least 8 ounce capacity.  In addition, a fire watch is required for at least one hour following the use of each saw.  On BLM managed lands in the Roseburg and Coos Bay Districts, the use of non-industrial power saws or other equipment with internal combustion engines used for felling, bucking, skidding, or wood cutting is prohibited unless a permit has been issued. 

·   The cutting, grinding or welding of metal for non-industrial purposes is allowed all day during LOW fire danger.  This activity is permitted before 1:00 p.m. or after 8:00 p.m. during MODERATE fire danger and before 10:00 a.m. or after 8:00 p.m. during HIGH fire danger. During EXTREME fire danger, the cutting, grinding or welding of metal is prohibited.  These activities can only be conducted in a cleared area, free of flammable vegetation and a charged garden hose or one 2 ½ pound or larger fire extinguisher must be immediately available.  The cutting, grinding or welding of metal is prohibited on BLM managed lands in the Roseburg and Coos Bay Districts.

·   The cutting, trimming or mowing of dried, cured grass is allowed all day during LOW fire danger.  This activity is permitted before 1:00 p.m. or after 8:00 p.m. during MODERATE fire danger and before 10:00 a.m. or after 8:00 p.m. during HIGHfire danger. During Extreme fire danger, the cutting, trimming or mowing of dried or cured grass is prohibited. The culture and harvest of agricultural crops is exempt from this requirement.

·   Any non-industrial improvement or development taking place on private property that utilizes power driven machinery may operate all day during LOW fire danger.  These activities are permitted before 1:00 p.m. or after 8:00 p.m. during MODERATE fire danger and before 10:00 a.m. or after 8 p.m. during HIGH fire danger.  During EXTREME fire danger, these activities are prohibited unless a waiver has been issued.  Each piece of power driven machinery working is required to have one shovel and one 2 ½ pound or larger fire extinguisher.  In addition, a fire watch is required for at least one hour once the equipment has completed work for the day.

In addition to the Public Use Restrictions, the use of exploding targets and tracer ammunition are prohibited within the Douglas District during fire season and the use sky lanterns are prohibited year-round in Oregon.  Backyard debris burning, including the use of burn barrels, remains prohibited.  Additional fire restrictions or closures may be in place through private industrial landowners or other public land management agencies on the lands they own or manage. See Link for DFPA’s helpful color guide.

Douglas County Fire District No. 2 is currently accepting applications for entry and lateral Firefighter/Paramedic. Please see our “Job Openings” tab at the top of the page for more information about the job posting and application or use this Link.