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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.

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.