Oregon Statewide Wildfire Risk Map

Tuesday, July 9th, 2024, 12:10:59 PM PDT
Lakeview, Oregon - Lakeview, OR Beginning Thursday, July 11, 2024, at 12:01 a.m., the Fremont-Winema National Forest, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Lakeview District, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex and Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex, and all private, county, and state wildlands protected by the Klamath-Lake District, Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and Walker Range Forest Patrol Association will be raising the Fire Danger Level to EXTREME.

With the progression of summer conditions and continued drying of forest fuels, local fire danger levels have reached EXTREME. Fires starting in these conditions have the potential for rapid fire spread and significant damage.

Additional fire prevention requirements have been placed on industrial forest operations. High speed rotary saws and tracked felling/skidding equipment are required to shut down between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. High speed rotary saws are REQUIRED to have an operation area observer visually inspecting the area worked in and additional fire equipment. These are in addition to the normal requirements listed in A Guide to Legal Requirements for Prevention and Controlling Fires in Operations On and Near Forest Land in Oregon.

These additional restrictions, along with Public Regulated Use Restrictions, will dramatically reduce the chance of an accidental fire start. For more information on restrictions please visit: https://www.scofmp.org/restrictions.shtml

Both Lake and Klamath counties have agreed to prohibit all outdoor debris burning. Forest operations that require a permit to operate power-driven machinery are required to have fire tools, on-site water supply, and watchmen service on privately owned forest land. The release of sky lanterns is prohibited during any time of the year. The discharge of exploding targets and the discharge of tracer ammunition are not permitted during the duration of the fire season.

Industrial Fire Precaution Level III (IFPL) will be implemented on public lands administered by the Fremont-Winema National Forest, BLM Lakeview District, and Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex

Under IFPL III, personal and commercial woodcutters are prohibited from operating power saws

Personal and commercial woodcutters are reminded of their responsibility to stay informed of current IFPLs and all restrictions that apply to activities conducted on public lands. Failure to comply with precautionary fire requirements may result in the issuance of a Violation Notice.

Public Use Restrictions apply to lands managed by the Fremont-Winema National Forest, BLM Lakeview District, Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex and Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The following restrictions apply.

- Building, maintaining, attending, or using campfires or stove fires are allowed only in specified campgrounds/areas. Specific site information may be obtained by contacting your local Forest Service, BLM, or USFWS offices.

-Portable cooking stoves utilizing liquefied or bottled fuel sources continue to be allowed on all public lands managed by the Fremont-Winema National Forest, BLM Lakeview District, Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex and Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex

- Smoking is only allowed in an enclosed vehicle, building, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter (six feet in diameter for Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex) that is void of all flammable material, including vegetation.

-A motorized vehicle (this includes all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, cars, pickups, etc.) may only be operated on roads where vegetation does not come into contact with the vehicle's undercarriage.

-Motorized vehicles parked off roadways must be in an area barren of flammable material, including vegetation.

-Internal combustion engines (generators, etc.) not previously addressed may only be operated within specified campgrounds/areas.

- Power saw operations are prohibited.

-No welding equipment may be used, including acetylene or open flame torches.

- All motorized vehicles must carry the following equipment:

1. One shovel not less than 26 inches in overall length, with a blade not less than eight inches wide,

2. One water container of at least one gallon in size filled or a 2.5 pound fully charged fire extinguisher,

- Spark arresting devices must be properly installed and maintained on all internal combustion engines.

For more information on restrictions please visit: https://www.scofmp.org/

Oregon Department of Forestry - 541-883-5681 (ODF-Klamath) or 541-947-3311 (ODF-Lake)

Fremont-Winema National Forest - 541-947-2151

BLM Lakeview District - 541-947-2177 (Lakeview) or 541-883-6916 (Klamath)

Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex - 541-947-2731.Type your paragraph here.

The excerpt below is copied from the Oregon Statewide Hazard Map web page. https://hazardmap.forestry.oregonstate.edu/
The assessment and modeling were completed with OSU and partner agencies listed on the homepage. While Keno RFPD has in the past conducted risk assessments, the map data obtained during those assessments were not part of the final product here(https://hazardmap.forestry.oregonstate.edu/). 
Draft Wildfire Hazard Map Available for Public Input (Open through Aug. 18, 2024)
On July 18, 2024, drafts of new statewide wildfire hazard and wildland-urban interface (WUI) maps developed by Oregon State University scientists were released. The maps can be viewed online on the Oregon Explorer and the Oregon Department of Forestry will accept public comment on the draft maps through Aug. 18. All public comments on the maps should be submitted to ODF at hazardmap@odf.oregon.gov. 
OSU researchers have engaged in a multi-year effort with partner agencies (Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon State Fire Marshal, Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services), fire modeling experts, local subject matter experts, advisory committees, and stakeholders to develop the draft wildfire hazard and WUI maps. This collaboration has resulted in important changes to the map, including: 

The new draft maps categorize properties according to three hazard classes – low, moderate or high – rather than five risk classes.
In response to public feedback to the first map, OSU scientists adjusted the way hazard is calculated in hay and pasturelands, which often won’t burn because they’re either irrigated or grazed. And if they do burn, the scientists point out, it’s usually later in fire season and only under severe weather conditions. The result of the changes is a reduced hazard level for about 1.7 million acres.
Also in response to public feedback, scientists modified hazard calculations on irrigated croplands to account for irrigation reducing the likelihood and intensity of wildfires in these areas. All croplands identified as having been irrigated in at least one of the last five years were placed in the low hazard category in the current draft map, affecting about 2.7 million acres. The state Board of Forestry will vote in September to finalize the rule on irrigated agriculture.Learn more here. 
Thank you again,
If I can help you further, please reach out to me. My contact information is listed below.

David Blair
Fire Chief
Keno Rural Fire Protection District
chiefblair@kenofire.com
Station: (541) 883-3062
​

**Fire Season and Restrictions**