Fire Restrictions Increase on BLM-Managed Public Lands in Harney County
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Hines, Ore. – On Saturday, July 9, public use restrictions increased in Harney County. For all public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management:
- Campfires are now prohibited anytime, anywhere, except within established fire rings at Fish Lake and Jackman Park campgrounds on Steens Mountain.
- Personal chainsaw use is allowed only before 1 p.m. and after 8 p.m., not in between. A one-hour fire watch is required after shutdown.
- Driving or parking off-road or in any area not clear of flammable vegetation, berm to berm, is prohibited.
- Smoking is prohibited outdoors unless in a vehicle, or a boat in rivers or lakes.
- For commercial woodsworkers, the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) is now two – work with your agency Contracting Officer or Project Inspector to determine what is permitted at your work site.
In addition, city and county burn bans are in place for the season. Fireworks, tracer and incendiary devices, metal and/or exploding targets are prohibited, along with sky lanterns, which are always banned in Oregon airspace. Public land in the Malheur National Forest within the Burns Interagency Fire Zone remains at IFPL one and no public use restrictions are in effect.
“Now is not the time to be careless,” said Kim Valentine, BIFZ Fire Management Officer. “Fire weather is often predicable, but people are a wildcard.”
You can help prevent human-caused fires by following public use restrictions and maintaining vehicles and equipment / assuring there is nothing dragging on the ground – sparks can shoot exhaust; keeping proper tire pressure – driving on exposed wheel rims will throw sparks; and never operating equipment that produces sparks near dry vegetation.
Be alert of your surroundings and cautious with activities. One less spark, one less wildfire! To report a wildfire, call (541) 573-1000.
For information on wildfire activity, smoke conditions, and current public use restrictions, follow Burns Interagency Fire Zone on Facebook and Instagram, or call (541) 573-4519.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.