10-5-21

The Douglas Forest Protective Association (DFPA) and the Roseburg District of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will officially end the 2021 fire season on Wednesday, October 6th at 12:01 a.m., for lands under their protection and management. The end of fire season is a result of recent wetting rains and an overall cooling trend which has returned to the area.

With the end of fire season, both the public and industrial fire restrictions that were implemented through DFPA and Roseburg BLM will no longer be in effect.

A list of fire restrictions and closures in place through private industrial landowners can be found online at https://ofic.com/private-forestland-closures/.

Some closures remain in place for public lands managed by the BLM Roseburg District in the Kent Creek area. For further information on closures specific to public lands, please visit:

https://www.blm.gov/orwafire.

Additional information on the Roseburg District BLM and status of recreation areas are available at: https://www.blm.gov/office/roseburg-district-office

Backyard debris burning outside of incorporated cities will be allowed without a burn permit from DFPA, however, residents should contact their local fire department before conducting any type of debris burning as fire restrictions may vary between local fire districts. The only type of burning that requires a permit from DFPA outside of fire season is for the burning of logging slash. Any type of commercial tree harvest that requires excess debris to be burned constitutes logging slash and therefore requires a burn permit. Permits to burn logging slash can be obtained by calling DFPA at 541-672-6507.

Despite fire season coming to an end, fire officials advise residents to exercise caution when burning yard debris or when using fire in the woods. Several days of sunshine and dry weather during the fall months can create a fire risk even if a week or more of cool, wet conditions precede them.

When burning yard debris, make sure to have an adequate fire trail around the pile before ignition begins and have fire tools and a water supply at the burn site. Debris piles should never be left unattended and should be fully extinguished before leaving the area. If a debris burn escapes containment, the responsible party may be held financially responsible for the resulting fire suppression costs and associated damages.

Those choosing to recreate in wildland areas are reminded that private industrial landowners and neighboring public land management agencies may still have fire restrictions or closures in place on the lands they own or manage. Recreationists should check with the appropriate landowner or public land management agency for the location they plan to recreate at, before heading to the woods.

Staff with the Douglas Forest Protective Association and the Roseburg BLM would like to thank the community for their cooperation and support during the 2021 fire season.