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Medford, Oregon – Thanks to recent rains and an increase in availability of initial attack resources to respond to new starts, the Bureau of Land Management Medford District is rescinding public lands closure notices across much of the District. Public lands closures remain in effect near the Slater Fire and the South Obenchain Fire.

Despite the re-opening of these public lands, fuel conditions remain dry and new starts are possible. Help us thank firefighters, and protect your community, by doing your part to prevent new fires by following the public use restrictions that are still in place. Campfires are prohibited on all public lands in the Medford District, and smoking is only allowed while inside a vehicle or in an area that is at least three feet in diameter clear of flammable vegetation.

The Bureau of Land Management Medford District works with the Oregon Department of Forestry to provide initial attack resources when new fires start. A combination of heavy smoke, limited resource availability and low fuel moisture content prompted the initial public lands closures. Significant progress and slow fire growth on the Slater Fire and South Obenchain Fires has also increased availability of resources should a new fire occur. The shorter days, higher humidity recovery at night and lower temperatures are important factors that fire managers consider when determining fire risk.

Public lands closures remain in effect near the Slater Fire and the South Obenchain Fire to reduce interference with emergency crews and allow for fire suppression and burned area recovery. Members of the public may not enter closed areas, all uses are prohibited in the area, and Bureau of Land Management roads and trails are closed.

The Slater Fire Closure includes all Bureau of Land Management public lands south of Cave Junction and south of Highway 46 from Cave Junction east to the boundary of the National Forest. The South Obenchain Fire closure includes all public lands south of Highway 62, north of Highway 140, east of Range 01W (approximately 2.5 miles west of Shady Cove) and west of Range 02E (approximately 2 miles east of Butte Falls).

Maps of the closure areas are available on the Bureau of Land Management’s website: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions

Please call 911 to report any signs of new fires.

Thank a firefighter by observing public use fire restrictions to help us limit new starts during this time:

• Campfires or any other type of open fire, including the use of charcoal briquettes, is prohibited on BLM-managed land.
• Power-driven machinery is prohibited in forested areas. This restriction includes power saws; equipment used for the cutting, grinding, or welding of metal; mowing of dry, cured grass with power equipment; and the use of any other spark-emitting equipment using an internal combustion engine.
• Smoking is only allowed while inside a vehicle or while stopped in an area at least three (3) feet in diameter that is clear of flammable vegetation.
• Operating a motor vehicle and parking off road (including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles) is only allowed on roadways clear of flammable vegetation.
• Using fireworks, exploding targets, or tracer ammunition is prohibited.
• Using a chainsaw or other equipment with internal combustion engines for felling, bucking, skidding, woodcutting, or any other operation is prohibited.
• Welding or operating a torch with an open flame is prohibited.

Visitors to lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management are also required to carry tools with them to ensure small fires can be put out quickly, including a shovel, axe, and at least one gallon of water or a 2.5-pound fire extinguisher. 

A list of personal use restrictions, as well as closure orders, are available at https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter @BLMOregon.