(Photo courtesy of Deschutes County)
Deschutes County has enacted public use fire restrictions on all County-owned land and all unprotected land in the unincorporated areas of the county until mid-October. A map of the restricted areas can be viewed here.
“Deschutes County is currently in an extreme fire danger situation. For the health and safety, as well as the economic vitality of our community, we are asking the public to comply with these restrictions and help reduce the threat of wildland fires,” said Kevin Moriarty, Deschutes County Forester.
The County’s public use fire restrictions correspond with those imposed by the Oregon Department of Forestry for forestry protected land. The restrictions include:
- Prohibiting open fires. This includes campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, except in designated areas. (Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed.)
- Prohibiting smoking while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads.
- Prohibiting chainsaw use between the hours of 1pm and 8pm. Chainsaw use is permitted at all other hours if firefighting equipment is present, and a one-hour fire watch follows each saw use.
- Prohibiting the use of fireworks.
- Prohibiting the use of motor vehicles. This includes motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, except on improved roads. (Vehicles used by a landowner on their own property is allowed while conducting activities associated with their livelihood.)
- Prohibiting the mowing of dried grass with power driven equipment between the hours of 1pm and 8pm, except for the commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops.
The Board of County Commissioners voted to impose the restrictions at its meeting on Wednesday, July 17. A full list of the Deschutes County public use fire restrictions can be viewed here.
