Fire Danger Level Increases to “High” in the Rogue Valley

Medford, Oregon- The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Southwest Oregon District has announced an increase in the fire danger level to “high” (yellow) starting Monday, July 1, 2024, at 12:01 a.m. The Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) will also rise to Level 2. This change affects 1.8 million acres of state, private, county, and Bureau of Land Management lands in Jackson and Josephine counties.

The primary adjustment in fire prevention restrictions will be the prohibition of power-driven equipment, such as chainsaws, mowers, and weed eaters, between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. This restriction extends to other spark-emitting equipment, including wood splitters and generators, with the exception of mowing green lawns.

Existing fire prevention regulations will continue, including:

No debris burning, including piles and burn barrels.
No fireworks on or within 1/8th of a mile of ODF-protected land. Fireworks are also banned on all BLM land.
Exploding targets and tracer ammunition, or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge, are prohibited.

Additional restrictions include:

Motorized vehicles are only permitted on improved roads, and travelers must carry a shovel and one gallon of water, or a 2.5-pound or larger fire extinguisher.
Smoking while traveling is only allowed in enclosed vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water, and other designated locations.
Chainsaw use is prohibited between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Outside of these hours, operators must have a shovel and an 8-oz or larger fire extinguisher at the site, and a fire watch is required for one hour after use.
Cutting, grinding, and welding metal are prohibited between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. These activities can occur outside of these hours if the site is cleared of flammable materials and a water supply is present.
Mowing dead or dry grass with power-driven equipment is not allowed between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.

For any other spark-emitting internal combustion engine use not specified, similar restrictions apply between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m., with allowances outside this time frame if the site is cleared of flammable vegetation and a water supply is available.

Electric fence controllers must be approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory or certified by the Department of Consumer and Business Services and installed and used per the controller’s instructions for fire-safe operation.

For industrial operations under IFPL II, the following activities may operate between 8 p.m. and 1 p.m. daily: