Fire Season started

[Gus Orviston]

Effective Monday, July 14th, 2008 - the Tillamook State Forest will be under Fire Seaon Regulated Use Restrictions. Regulated Use Restrictions will last until Fire Season is officially over - that's usuallysometime in October and I promise I'll keep you posted.

A waiver is in effect for OHV trail networks in the Browns Camp, Jordan Creek, Diamond Mill, and Trask areas so the trails remain open. I will keep you posted if that changes for any reason.

Here's the run down on what you need to know for visiting the woods while Regulated Use is in effect. We've already had two fires out in the woods in the past week, one near Browns and one off of Highway 26. Please help us prevent forest fires by spreading the word on these use restrictions.

Please feel free to call our offices if you have questions. (Forest Grove - 503.357.2191 or Tillamook - 503.842.2545)

http://egov.oregon.gov/ODF/TSF/Recreation.shtml


REGULATED USE GENERAL RESTRICTIONS - EFFECTIVE MONDAY, JULY 14TH, 2008

• Each vehicle entering the Tillamook State Forest is required to carry a shovel with an 8 inch blade and that is at least 26 inches long from the tip of the blade to the end of the handle. (All four-wheel drive vehicles using OHV trails are required to carry this while on the trails.)

• Each vehicle entering the Tillamoook State Forest is required to carry either 1 gallon of water or a 2.5 pound fire extinguisher. (All four-wheel drive vehicles using OHV trails are required to carry this while on the trails.)

• CAMPFIRES - Campfire regulations are listed below. If you are not 100% sure you are in an area where campfires are permitted, please ask and Oregon Department of Forestry employee before you start your campfire.

• Campfires are only permitted in the metal firegrates installed by the Department of Forestry in designated campgrounds (Reehers Camp, Gales Creek, Browns Camp, Elk Creek, Jones Creek, Jordan Creek, Nehalem Falls) or in designated campsites where the Department of Forestry has installed metal firegrates and has posted the site as a "Designated Camping Area". (Such as the campsites along Cedar Creek).

• Campfires are not permitted in Lyda Camp, at the stock pile area near Browns Camp, or in any other dispersed / remote campsite - even if there is a rock ring at the site.

• Charcoal BBQs are prohibited outside of designated campgrounds(Reehers Camp, Gales Creek, Browns Camp, Elk Creek, Jones Creek, Jordan Creek, Nehalem Falls.)

• In dispersed / remote campsitesor if backpacking camping only propane and gas stoves or propane or gas BBQs are permitted.

• All motorcycles and quads in use in the designated OHV areas on the Tillamook State Forest must have a USFS approved spark arrestor. (Motorcycles and quads do not have to carry shovels, water or fire extinguishers while in operation on the OHV trail network.)

• Smoking of cigarettes, cigars, or pipes is only permitted in the areas described above where campfires are allowed AND in the closed cab of your vehicles. (That means topand doors on and windows rolled up).

• Chainsaw useby the public is prohibited forest wide.

• Fireworks (even sparklers) are prohibited forest wide.

• Tiki torches are prohibited forest wide.

• Welding, arc / torch cutting or grinding of metal is prohibited forest wide.

• A waiver is in effect for the OHV trail networks in the Browns Camp, Jordan Creek, Diamond Mill, and Trask areas so the trails remain open. We will keep you posted if that changes for any reason.