NEWS RELEASE – Extreme Fire Danger

BAKER CITY, Ore. (July 8, 2021) – The Fire Danger Level is now “Extreme” across the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. At midnight tonight, the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) is moving to Level 4 as an additional fire-prevention measure. Public Use Restrictions (PURs) remain in Phase B this weekend on the Wallowa-Whitman. However, persistent wildfire risks may require a move to Phase C PURs in the near future.

IFPL 4 requires a general shutdown of chainsaws, power saws, and all heavy equipment operations. IFPLs also applies to fuelwood permit holders for both commercial and personal uses.

• Chainsaw and power saw use is not allowed.
• Tractor, skidder, feller-buncher, forwarder, or shovel logging operations are not allowed, nor are mechanized loading operations, hauling of any product or material, cable yarding, or blasting.
• Welding, metal cutting, or any other activities that can produce or emit a spark are not allowed.

Please be mindful of current Phase B Public Use Restrictions in addition to IFPL 4 restrictions.

• Campfires are not allowed outside of the fire pits provided at developed recreation sites, where all flammable material should be cleared 10 feet from the edge of the pit, and the pit should be free of overhanging material.
• Anyone with a campfire must have a tool that can serve as a shovel and at least one gallon of water. Campfires must be attended at all times and completely extinguished prior to leaving. Remember: “If it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave.”
• While campfires are still allowed in Wilderness Areas, year-around restrictions in the Eagle Cap Wilderness prohibit campfires within 100 feet of any lakes or posted wetlands. Campfires are also prohibited within ¼ mile (1320 feet) of the lakes listed on the back of Eagle Cap Wilderness permits.
• As a reminder, year-around campfire restrictions also apply to the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area within a ¼ mile of the Wild and Scenic portions of the Snake River, from Hells Canyon Dam downstream to the Oregon-Washington border.
• Public lands in Idaho follow separate Idaho Fire Restrictions.
• Generators are allowed only if fully contained in the bed of a pickup truck or in an area that has been cleared of all flammable material at least 10 feet away. Other internal combustion engines are prohibited, except for motor vehicles.
• Wood stoves and briquette fires are not permitted.
• Motor vehicle travel off developed forest roads and trails is not allowed due to the risk of a vehicle sparking a wildfire in the dry grass and roadside vegetation. Exception: Vehicles may be used to access campsites located within 300 feet of an open developed road. All motorized travel on roads closed by gates, barricades, berms, rocks, or logs is prohibited.
• Fireworks are always prohibited on public lands.
• Phase B PURs prohibit chainsaw use without a permit, and even with a permit, chainsaw use is not currently allowed under IFPL 4.

Remember, “Only you can prevent wildfires!” With tinder-dry forest fuels and high daytime temperatures, conditions are prime for human-caused wildfires. We ask everyone to be extremely careful with campfires. Please be vigilant with other ignition sources too: It just takes one spark from an unsecured chain while towing a trailer, or from a flat tire with an exposed wheel or hubcap.

Separate restrictions may be in effect on State and private lands protected by Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) in northeast Oregon. For more information, contact your local ODF office or visit the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center website (http://www.bmidc.org).

To learn more, contact your local Forest Service office or visit our website (www.fs.usda.gov/wallowa-whitman).

wildfire notice poster

Campfires will continue to be the centerpiece of family campsites across Northeast Oregon’s three national forests. However, beginning June 1, forest visitors are required to build their campfire in a fire pit surrounded by dirt, rock, or commercial rings, in areas cleared of all flammable material within a three‐foot radius from the edge of the pit and free of overhanging material. A shovel and one gallon of water are required to be in your possession while building and tending campfires. These requirements also apply to the use of charcoal briquettes.

Forest managers understand campfires are an important part of the outdoor camping experience.

“The intent is to allow campfire use while promoting safe campfire building techniques that, in the long run, will protect lives, property, and our natural landscapes,” said Brian Goff, Umatilla Fire Management Officer.

The seasonal regulation does not prohibit the use of campfires, when conditions permit; it only designates proper conditions for safe campfires. The June 1 date for campfire safety regulations in dispersed and developed campsites is meant to encourage campfire safety before fire season comes full‐swing.

“There’s a long history of wildfire in the Blue Mountains and we do not expect that to change. This summer will be particularly challenging,” added Goff. Though lightning is the number one cause of wildfires in this area, human‐caused wildfires are preventable, unpredictable and can occur anywhere with no warning.

“Historically, the public has practiced safe campfire techniques and it is much appreciated,” shared Bret Ruby, Wallowa‐Whitman Fire Management Officer. “However, the potential for large human‐caused wildfires still exists,” added Ruby.

Seasonal campfire regulations are in effect June 1 through October 31, unless more restrictive measures are warranted. During times of high or extreme fire danger, forests will implement additional Public Use Restrictions, also known as PURs, which will further restrict the use of campfires, chainsaws, smoking, and travel. PURs will be implemented in phases, based on increased fire danger, hot and dry weather conditions, and concern for public safety.

“We get very busy at this time of year dealing with the numerous lightning caused fires, so preventing the added workload from human caused wildfires is our ultimate goal,” said Roy Walker, Malheur Fire Management Officer.

Forest officials recommend the following campfire safety precautions:

Find more campfire safety information at http://www.smokeybear.com/campfire‐safety.asp.

Please call the appropriate Forest’s Information Hotline for up‐to‐date restriction information:

Umatilla National Forest Information Hotline: Toll‐Free, (877) 958‐9663

Wallowa‐Whitman National Forest Information Hotlines: Baker City, (541) 523‐1234; La Grande, (541) 962‐8679; Joseph, (541) 426‐5552

Malheur National Forest Information Hotline: John Day, (541) 575‐3000

FIRE RESTRICTIONS: The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest is currently in a Seasonal Campfire Restriction and at 12:01 a.m. (PDT) on Saturday, July 19, 2014 will go into Phase A of the Public Use Restrictions. For detailed information about these regulations, visit: http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5429097.pdf.

Here is the latest report concerning a fire that is currently burning in the Eagle Cap Wilderness:

The Hurricane Fire is located approximately 4 miles southwest of Joseph, Oregon in the Eagle Cap Wilderness; east of Hurricane Creek and north of Dunn Creek. It was detection July 13, 2014, and was caused by lightning. As of this morning, it is 120 acres in size and containment is at 0%.

TODAY’S MESSAGE: One Type 3 helicopter with a 14 person crew will arrive today and be incorporated into the suppression. Suppression activities on the fire are extremely difficult due to very steep terrain that provides minimal helicopter landing sites for transporting crews, limited creek crossing opportunities for crews needing to cross Hurricane Creek to access the fire, and steep, rocky slopes challenging crews hiking to the fire.

The Management Team is working closely with the Oregon Department of Forestry to coordinate protection of private land along Hurricane Creek.

A second fire in the area,the Hurricane Creek 2 Fire, is located west of Hurricane Creek. It is being monitored from the air.

YESTERDAY’S ACTIVITIES: The Hurricane Fire burned actively through the day. Crews continued to work along the west edge of the fire, improving the line and mopping up hot spots within the fire area. They also worked the area along the southwest portion where retardant was dropped on Monday to check fire intensity, and scout for additional spots. Crews mopped up the three acre spot fire north of the main fire. Two crews brushed out along the Hurricane Creek Road, improving safety for fire equipment and creating a wider fuel break.

TODAY’S PLANNED ACTIVITIES: Crews will continue line construction and suppression work along the west, north, and south edges of the fire and to mop-up the spot fire just north of the main fire. Brush out operations along the Hurricane Creek Road will continue. Fuel reduction work will be done along the Forest Service land boundary east of Hurricane Creek. Air support will be used, as appropriate, to assist suppression efforts on the fire. Spot fires in the vicinity of the fire will be monitored.

WEATHER: The skies will be clear and sunny on Thursday. Temperatures will be a bit cooler but winds will increase and vary from 8 to 14 out of the west.

AREA/ROAD CLOSURES: The Hurricane Creek Trail (#1807) is closed from the Hurricane Creek trailhead near the Falls Creek Forest Camp to the trail’s junction with Trail #1824 near Billy Jones Creek. To see the updated closure, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/wallowa-whitman.

The Hurricane Creek Road is closed to the general public beginning at the Hurricane Creek Grange, due to fire activity in the area and unsafe conditions on the road related to fire incident traffic. Owners of homes and property along the road will be allowed access.

RESOURCES ASSIGNED TO THE FIRE: Currently 96 people are assigned to this fire including 12 smoke jumpers, 4 helitac crew, 4 district fire personnel, 2 Type 2 crews, and other support personnel. Also 1 Type 1 and 1 Type 3 helicopter are assigned to the fire. A Type 1 crew has been ordered.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: