From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Thu Sep 6 15:27:06 2012 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Thu, 6 Sep 2012 15:27:06 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Hunter info booths open in central Ore next week Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B60B449E9012@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> The Oregon Dept. of Forestry issued this news release today. Hunter info booths open in central Ore next week Sept. 6, 2012 Major media distribution Contact: Kevin Benton, Oregon Dept. of Forestry, Prineville - 541-447-5658 Echo Murray, Walker Range Fire Patrol Assoc., Hwy 58 - 541-433-2451 Angie Johnson, Oregon Dept. of Forestry, John Day - 541-575-1139 Kiel Nairns, Oregon Dept. of Forestry, The Dalles - 541-296-4626, Sisters Fire Department - 541-549-0771 Fire danger remains high in central Oregon. In an effort to prevent human-caused fires during hunting season, wildland fire officials will host Hunter Information Booths across Central Oregon Wednesday, Sept. 26 to Friday, Sept. 28. (See below for location and times). Current fire restriction information will be provided to the public regarding open fires, off-road driving, chainsaw use, smoking in the forest, and more. Maps will be available for sale and road closure information will also be available. Coffee will also be available at most locations. Early fall is the most dynamic time of year for fire danger. Cold nights alone do not provide adequate moisture and hot afternoons continue to dry out vegetation. Central Oregon received scattered showers over the past week but in recent days has not seen any moisture. The message to hunters and recreationists is to call ahead to the area you are visiting and find out the current fire use restrictions, which can change quickly and vary from place to place. Fire season remains in effect on all Oregon Department of Forestry protected lands. Fire restriction/fire use information can be found at the following locations: Private lands in the Central Oregon area - The Oregon Department of Forestry: Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties - Prineville Unit 541-447-5658 Gilliam, Morrow, Hood River, and Wasco counties - The Dalles Unit 541-296-4626 Wheeler, Grant, and Harney counties - John Day Unit 541-575-1139 http://oregon.gov/ODF/FIELD/COD/aboutus.shtml Public lands - USDA Forest Service Deschutes National Forest 541-383-5300 Ochoco National Forest 541-416-6500 Malheur National Forest 541-575-1321 http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/fire/ Public lands - USDI Bureau of Land Management Prineville District 541-416-6700 http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/fire/ Hunter Booth Locations: * Prineville - at Ray's on the East side of Prineville off Highway 26 Wednesday 9/26/12 5:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Thursday 9/27/12 5:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Friday 9/28/12 5:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. ? Sister's- at Ray's West end of Sister's on HWY 20 Thursday 9/27/12 6 a.m.- 6 p.m. Friday 9/28/12 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. * La Pine - at Ray's located on Hwy 97 South in La Pine Thursday 9/27/12 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. Friday 9/28/12 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. * Walker Range-Highway 58 - On Highway 58 at mile post 71 Thursday 9/27/12 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Friday 9/28/12 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. * The Dalles - Memaloose Rest Area on I-84 Thursday 9/27/12 6 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Friday 9/28/12 6 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. * The Dalles - Dodson Road Thursday 9/27/12 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Friday 9/28/12 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. ? Mt. Vernon- Hwy 26 Wednesday 9/26/12 6 a.m.- 6 p.m. Thursday 9/27/12 6 a.m.- 6 p.m. Friday 9/28/12 6 a.m.- 6 p.m. The hunter booths are brought to you by the Central Oregon Fire Prevention Cooperative, the Klamath County Fire Prevention Cooperative the Mid-Columbia Fire Prevention Cooperative and the Grant-Harney Fire Prevention Co-op. ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Fri Sep 7 09:49:28 2012 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2012 09:49:28 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Recreation on private forests hinges on fire conditions Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B60B449E9115@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> The Oregon Dept. of Forestry issued this news release today. Recreation on private forests hinges on fire conditions For immediate release Major media distribution Sept. 7, 2012 Contact: Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425, rnichols at odf.state.or.us Early fall is one of the best times to visit Oregon's forests. The sunny days and cool evenings set the stage for an enjoyable experience, whatever the recreational pursuit. To assure this natural legacy will be there for future outings, please be mindful of fire safety. Drought conditions across much of the region have sapped trees, shrubs and grasses of moisture, creating a fuel bed primed to burn. It will take more than morning dew or even a rain shower to reduce the wildfire hazard. Private forest owners have closed about 2.3 million acres to public access as a fire prevention measure. But a break in the current dry weather could prompt them to reopen their lands. "Most land managers recognize and support the variety of recreational experiences the public can have on private lands," said Mike Dykzeul with the Oregon Forest Industries Council. "We hope the coming week's weather patterns will bring some much-needed rains to reduce fire danger and minimize access restrictions." Hunters planning to go afield for the western Oregon deer season that opens Sept. 29 are advised to check the "corporate closures" list on the Oregon Department of Forestry's Internet site, http://cms.oregon.gov/odf/pages/fire/corporate_closure.aspx, regularly to learn the access status of large private timberlands. For an update on fire safety restrictions for private and non-federal public forestlands, call the Oregon Department of Forestry field office nearest your destination. Office phone Nos. can be found at: http://cms.oregon.gov/ODF/pages/offices.aspx As hunters prepare their gear for the upcoming season, fire officials are quick to caution against the use of exploding targets and incendiary ammunition, or tracer rounds, which have been known to cause fires. These products are also prohibited during fire season throughout much of the state. "It doesn't take much to spark a fire this time of year," says Oregon Department of Forestry's Fire Prevention Coordinator, Tom Fields. "We've been very fortunate so far considering we've gone an entire summer with little to no precipitation. Now is not the time to let our guard down and ruin an otherwise successful season." ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Mon Sep 10 11:29:25 2012 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2012 11:29:25 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Eastern Oregon Regional Forest Practices Committee - September 25 in Lakeview Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B60B449E93B2@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry - NEWS RELEASE Eastern Oregon Regional Forest Practices Committee meets September 25 in Lakeview September 10, 2012 Contact: Kevin Weeks, ODF Public Affairs, (503) 945-7427 The Eastern Oregon Regional Forest Practices Committee has scheduled a meeting for Tuesday September 25 at the Lakeview BLM District offices, 1301 South "G" Street in Lakeview. The meeting is tentatively scheduled to run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with a public comment period scheduled near the start of the meeting. The proposed agenda for the meeting is scheduled to include an update on the restoration work within the Private Forests program including hiring of stewardship forester and technical specialist positions, an update on implementation of an audit to measure Forest Practices Act compliance, review of proposed rule language implementing changes to written plan requirements and updates on current Department activities involving forest roads and standards to protect streamside riparian areas. Regional Forest Practices Committees are panels of citizens - mandated under Oregon law - that advise the Oregon Board of Forestry on current forestry issues and forest management approaches. Three Regional Forest Practices Committees, serving the Northwest, Southwest and Eastern regions of the state, were created within the Oregon Forest Practices Act in 1971. Under Oregon law, the committees are comprised of citizens qualified by education or experience in natural resource management. A majority of Regional Forest Practices Committees members are private forest landowners, their representatives or persons regularly engaged in forest operations. Members of the public may attend the meeting. The meeting location is accessible to persons with disabilities. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. Questions about accessibility or special accommodations for the meeting can be directed to the Oregon Department of Forestry at 503-945-7502. Additional information about ODF's Regional Forest Practices Committees is available on the Oregon Department of Forestry's web site: www.oregon.gov/ODF/BOARD/RFPC/rfpc.shtml ### Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer Oregon Department of Forestry Public Affairs Office (503) 945-7427 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Tue Sep 11 11:24:52 2012 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2012 11:24:52 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Committee for Family Forestlands meets Sept 17 in Salem Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B60B449E965D@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry - NEWS RELEASE Oregon's "Committee for Family Forestlands" meets September 17 in Salem Sept. 11, 2012 News Contact: Cynthia Orlando (503-945-7421) Lena Tucker (503-945-7529) The Committee for Family Forestlands is scheduled to meet at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, September 17, 2012 at the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) headquarters in Salem, 2600 State Street - Operations Building D, Santiam meeting room. The Committee provides information to the Oregon Board of Forestry and the State Forester on ways to improve the vitality of Oregon's family-owned forestlands. The proposed agenda for the meeting includes House Bill 2165 - conditions under which written plans are required for forest operations, as well as Eastern Oregon forests, an update on ODF's "Private Forests" program including riparian rule analysis, a fire season update, and ramifications of the Malheur Lumber Mill closure. Thirteen positions - seven voting members and six seats in non-voting roles - form the committee. Voting members include family forest owners, an environmental community representative, a representative of Oregon's forest products industry and a citizen-at-large representing the public. Representatives of the Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon State University, Oregon Small Woodlands Association, forestry-related industry associations and the Oregon Forest Resources Institute serve in a non-voting capacity. Members of the public are invited to attend and participate in the meeting. The meeting location is accessible to persons with disabilities. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. Questions about accessibility or special accommodations for the meeting can be directed to the Oregon Department of Forestry at 503-945-7502. Additional information about the Committee for Family Forestlands is available on ODF's web site, www.oregon.gov/ODF/BOARD/CFF/cff.shtml # # # -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Wed Sep 19 09:49:29 2012 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2012 09:49:29 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] ODF: Fire Danger Extreme, Campfires Prohibited Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B60B44A3686A@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry - NEWS RELEASE FIRE DANGER EXTREME: CAMPFIRES PROHIBITED September 18, 2012 Major media distribution Contact: Tom Fields, 503-945-7440, tfields at odf.state.or.us Mary Ellen Holly, 503-559-7011, mholly at odf.state.or.us "We can't afford to have a careless fire now," says Tom Fields of the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF). "We haven't had a reprieve from the hot, dry weather for several weeks," the fire prevention coordinator said, "and with vegetation as dry as it is, it won't take much to get a fire going." Fire activity across the Pacific Northwest has also depleted firefighting resources, leaving wildland firefighting agencies thin should a large fire break out. He noted that fire patrols across the state have been seeing an increasing number of illegal campfires that, when left to smolder, could lead to a major wildfire. To date in 2012, not counting the numerous campfires engine crews have put out during patrols, 30 illegal campfires have burned close to six acres and cost over $25,000 to suppress. "That's roughly the size of six football fields: all because campfires are being left to burn in precarious areas," he said. Open fires, including campfires, are prohibited on all lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry, about 16 million acres of private, county, state and Bureau of Land Management (west of the Cascades) forestland. Campfires may be allowed in some designated areas and travelers should check with their local forestry or protection association office for details. When campfires are allowed, they should be put completely out before leaving the campsite. To do so, drown the fire with an abundance of water, stir and separate the hot coals, and drown again until all of the heat has been removed. Fields adds that even if campfires are allowed this is not a good time to have one. For more information on campfire safety and preventing human-caused fires, visit www.keeporegongreen.org. ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Wed Sep 19 16:07:52 2012 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2012 16:07:52 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Oregon's Wildland Arson Patrol nets award Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B60B44A369D7@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> The Oregon Dept. of Forestry and Oregon State Police issued this news release today. Oregon's Wildland Arson Patrol nets Award from Oregon Chapter 31 International Association of Arson Investigators September 19, 2012 Contact: Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425, rnichols at odf.state.or.us Lt. Gregg Hastings, 503-731-3020 ext. 247, gregg.hastings at state.or.us Oregon's Wildland Urban Interface Patrol program received an award this week recognizing the program for its work to reduce the incidence of arson. Informally known as the "Wildland Arson Patrol," the collaborative project of the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and Oregon State Police (OSP) garnered the Oregon Chapter 31 International Association of Arson Investigators' (IAAI) Outstanding Accomplishment Award presented Wednesday during the association's training conference. Prompted by a rash of costly wildfires set by arsonists during the early 1990s, the patrol came into being in 1997 and combined the law enforcement skills of veteran OSP state troopers with the wildland fire know-how of ODF's field investigators. At the outset, both agencies determined that a neighborhood watch effort was needed in high-risk arson areas, along with a rapid-response capability to respond to critical situations anywhere in ODF's far-reaching fire protection jurisdiction: 16 million acres of private and public forest and rangeland. The arson patrol officers serve a dual function: Assist other law enforcement agencies to investigate suspicious wildfires, and educate the public on how to detect and report possible arson incidents. In their education role, they also press the need to practice fire prevention for both arson and other human-caused fires. Already trained and experienced in criminal investigation, the troopers quickly picked up the knowledge of wildland fire scene investigation they would need to do the job. "They were essentially able to hit the ground running," ODF's Jeff Bonebrake said. "And as sworn officers, they bring with them authorities and capabilities that we as an agency are not able to provide directly." Retired State Troopers Jim Davis, Klamath Falls, and Bill Lyons, Bend, are working the Arson Patrol during the 2012 wildfire season. The beat is a familiar one to both men, as each worked the arson patrol in years' past. "Harnessing the training and experiences retired State Troopers have for this type of a program is a huge benefit for Department of Forestry, law enforcement, and everyone who uses our natural resources," said OSP Major Travis Hampton. "Their proactive contacts prevent fires from starting, and when a fire does happen they are a critical resource to help determine if it was human-caused." The IAAI award was presented at the Oregon Chapter 31 awards banquet held in Hood River on Sept. 19. The Outstanding Accomplishment Award is presented to municipalities, agencies (law enforcement or private), and companies which have developed successful programs which help to reduce the incidence of arson by implementing and achieving a progressive, innovative and successful program. One award is presented annually. The Outstanding Accomplishment Award is also known as the Bill Hakim Award. Oregon State Police Senior Trooper Bill Hakim died in the line of duty as a result of a bomb explosion at a Woodburn-area bank on December 12, 2008. More information about the Wildland Urban-Interface Arson Patrol Project is available on the Oregon State Police website at http://www.oregon.gov/osp/AES/pages/Wildland_Arson.aspx. ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Fri Sep 21 07:56:36 2012 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2012 07:56:36 -0700 Subject: [ODF_Private_Forests] Prescribed burn at The Oregon Garden Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B60B44A36C2C@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> The Oregon Dept. of Forestry issued this news release today. Prescribed burn at The Oregon Garden aims to re-create oak savannah For immediate release Major media distribution Sept. 20, 2012 Contact: Kris Babbs, 503-945-7444, kbabbs at odf.state.or.us Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425, rnichols at odf.state.or.us Firefighters will shift roles and set a fire at The Oregon Garden. A prescribed burn to remove excess vegetation will be conducted on Sept. 24 by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), The Oregon Garden and Silverton Fire and Rescue. "This burn of a 12-acre unit within a grove of white oaks is the second phase of a project begun last year," said Oregon Department of Forestry's Chris Paul. The earlier work reduced overgrown vegetation through manual brush removal, tree pruning and herbicide treatment. The aim of the ongoing project, he said, is to create conditions characteristic of the original oak savanna, a lightly forested grassland dominated by oak trees. The burn will be ignited around 1 p.m. and is expected to be completed in about two hours. It will be staffed by the agencies' firefighters to contain it within the boundaries of the unit. ODF meteorologists are monitoring weather and wind conditions to minimize smoke intrusion into Silverton. The prescribed burn will be rescheduled if conditions aren't optimum on Monday. He said forest fuels such as Himalayan blackberry, Scotch broom and other non-native and invasive plant species will be removed to encourage the growth of camas and other native plants and grasses. The burn will be visible from the deck of The Oregon Garden Fire Safety House, a new life-sized exhibit that features fire-safe home construction material and design improvements, fire-resistant landscaping plants, and a self-guided interpretive tour on how to reduce the surrounding fuels that could cause a wildfire to encroach on a home. "Silverton residents and visitors to The Oregon Garden should expect smoke in the area during ignitions and as the fire smolders down," he said. The forester advised residents who are sensitive to smoke or have pre-existing respiratory problems to limit their outdoor activities on the day of the burn, particularly during the afternoon, and to keep windows closed. More information about how to limit exposure to smoke is available at: www.deq.state.or.us/aq/burning/wildfires/visibility.htm. The prescribed burn will also serve as a training tool for firefighters to work with live fire and hone their skills in wildfire suppression tactics. ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: