LA GRANDE — As recent weather brings about high temperatures and increasingly dry landscapes, the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Northeast Oregon District is placing additional public-use restrictions in the district.

According to a press release, the additional restrictions go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday, Aug. 4, on private, state, county, municipal and tribal lands in Wallowa, Union, Baker and Umatilla counties, as well as small portions of Malheur, Grant and Morrow counties.

“This decision is not taken lightly and is based on comprehensive assessments by our experienced fire management teams,” Assistant District Forester Matt Hoehna said. “These assessments have indicated extreme regional fire conditions, necessitating precautionary measures to prevent potential fire outbreaks.”

The “extreme” assessment invokes additional restrictions including the prohibition of:

• All open debris burning and use of burn barrels.

• Open fires, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires.

• Fireworks (sky lanterns are prohibited year-round).

• Use of exploding targets.

• Use of tracer ammunition or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base.

• Nonindustrial chain saw use.

• Cutting, grinding and welding of metal.

• Mowing dried and cured grass with power-driven equipment, except for the commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops.

• Smoking while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water, or at a cleared area free of flammable vegetation.

Also, any electric fence controller in use must be listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory or certified by the Department of Consumer and Business Services, and must be operated in compliance with manufacturer’s instructions.

Activities that are still allowed include:

• Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels.

• Propane firepits that are self-contained and 3 feet away from any flammable fuels with a maximum flame height of 2 feet.

• The use of electric chain saws and electric string trimmers. 

Possession of the following firefighting equipment is required for any vehicle traveling on unimproved roadways where flammable vegetation exists: a shovel or other firefighting tool, at least a gallon of water, or a 2.5-pound or larger fire extinguisher.

The restrictions shall remain in effect until replaced, suspended or terminated by additional proclamations.

Current fire restrictions for forestlands in Northeastern Oregon can be found at the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch website: www.bmidc.org. The Northeast Oregon Fire Prevention line is 541-975-3027.

For fire information in the Blue Mountains, go to http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com.

Also, updates from ODF’s Northeast Oregon District are posted on Facebook (oregondeptofforestryNEO).

To report a fire, call Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch at 541-963-7171 or dial 911.