CampFires in Eastern Oregon

[Adjhunt]

I'm looking for information on campfires, and if they are allowed in desolation right now?
I've called a few numbers but can't get any info on it.
I'm expecting campfires are prohibited, but I would like to know for sure.
If anyone knows I would sure appreciate it, or if you have a number to call that would be awesome too!

-Andrew Johnson

[Eagleclaw]

Originally Posted by Adjhunt

I'm looking for information on campfires, and if they are allowed in desolation right now?
I've called a few numbers but can't get any info on it.
I'm expecting campfires are prohibited, but I would like to know for sure.
If anyone knows I would sure appreciate it, or if you have a number to call that would be awesome too!

-Andrew Johnson

fire restriction is High. only fires in designated camp grounds

[death roe]

judging by the size of the fire in your avatar i would say NO!!!

[ehunter]

Death roe

Sorry but that was funny

Originally Posted by death roe

judging by the size of the fire in your avatar i would say NO!!!

[Blackbeardown]

Depends on where in the Desolation unit you are hunting. It is covered by 3 National Forests.

Wallowa-Whitman NF 541-523-6391 No restrictions..campfires allowed

Umatilla NF 541-278-3750 No restrictions..campfires allowed

Malheur NF 541-575-1321 Restrictions in place...campfires in designated campgrounds only

[Dextreme]

Here is a pretty good link:

http://egov.oregon.gov/ODF/FIRE/precautionlevel.shtml

[baltz526]

the signs i saw said gas stoves only, no off road travel. extreme fire conditions. on all BLM, state lands.

[Adjhunt]

Originally Posted by death roe

judging by the size of the fire in your avatar i would say NO!!!

WHAT???? You don't cook your hotdogs from 20 yards away??



Blackbeardown-
Thank you so much for those numbers. We are in the Umatilla NF and I called that number but it didn't work, so I called Wallowa and he gave me the correct number for Umatilla. Which it... 541-278-3716 and yes campfires are allowed.

Thanks everyone!!

[Linejerk]

You really have to wonder about someone with a avatar of a BIG fire starting a thread about campfires.

[woodsy188]

FYI - Here's a link to BLM if ya want to try calling them....

http://www.blm.gov/or/index.php

[chummer]

The entire eastern half of Oregon and Washington has been under a "Red Flag Warning" which is forestry and Fire lingo for No outdoor fires of any kind. This may or has changed due to forecasted cooler weather and moisture.

[Elkguide]

here is info for umatilla national forest


http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/uma/fire/fireupdate.shtml#purs

[MossyOarReelCreek]

Here's some good info from BLM

For immediate release: July 22, 2008

Contact: Christina Welch 541/416-6731

EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE PRINEVILLE DISTRICT BLM AREA RAISES INDUSTRIAL FIRE PRECAUTION TO LEVEL III
PUBLIC USE RESTRICTIONS ALSO GO INTO EFFECT
John Day, OR - The continuing dry weather and high fire danger has prompted land managers for the Malheur National Forest and the east side portion of the Prineville District of the Bureau of Land Management to raise the Industrial Fire Precaution Level to "IFPL III", and to restrict the activities that could cause a fire. The fire restrictions will be in effect beginning at 12:01 am, on Wednesday morning, July 23 until further notice. The restrictions affect the following described BLM lands in Grant County subject to the same IFPL and Public Use Restrictions also being initiated by the Malheur NF:
All Prineville BLM lands south of County Rd 402, and east of: State Hwy 19 from Kimberley to its southern termini, thence on State Hwy 26 to Dayville, thence south on State Hwy 42 and BLM's South Fork of the John Day Road to its junction with State Hwy 68, thence south on State Hwy 68 to the boundary of the Malheur National Forest.

Under Public Use Restrictions, the following restrictions apply:

1. Visitors are not allowed to have an open campfire or charcoal grill except in specific designated recreation sites.
2. Off-road vehicle travel and firewood cutting are not allowed.
3. The use of chainsaws, generators and other internal combustion engines in timber, grass, or brush is prohibited.
4. Smoking is not permitted while traveling through timber, brush, or grass.
5. Liquid gas stoves and heaters are allowed.
6. Smoking is only permitted in an enclosed vehicle, building, or within specific developed recreation sites. Smoking is also allowed while stopped in an area that is at least three feet in diameter and is cleared of all flammable material.

Under IFPL III the following are prohibited, except as indicated:

1. Cable Yarding - exception: gravity operated logging systems employing non-motorized carriages may operate between 8 PM and 1 PM when all blocks and moving lines are suspended 10 feet above the ground except the line between the carriage and the chokers;
2. Power Saws - exception: power saws may be used at loading sites and on tractor/skidder operations between the hours of 8 PM and 1 PM local time.

In addition, the following are permitted to operate between the hours of 8 PM and 1 PM local time:

1. Tractor, skidder, feller-buncher, forwarder, or shovel logging operations where tractors, skidders or other equipment with a blade capable of constructing fireline are immediately available to quickly reach and effectively attack a fire start;
2. Mechanized loading or hauling of any product or material; welding or cutting of metal;
3. Any other spark emitting operation not specifically mentioned.

For a vicinity map of the restricted BLM lands, visit the Prineville BLM website at http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/prineville/index.php For more information about current fire restrictions in Central Oregon, visit the Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center website at www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/fire or call 1-800-523-4737.

To report fires or fireworks violations, call 9-1-1.

-end

[Two Fister]

From the Deschutes NF Website:

Current Industral Fire Precaution Level
Effective July 15, 2008, all lands administered by the

Deschutes National Forest, Prineville District BLM, Ochoco National Forest

and Crooked River National Grassland

will be in Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) II.

If you need more information, please call the24 hour information line at:

1-800-523-4737.

I'd call the 800 number to be sure.
TF

[Adjhunt]

I talked with the lady from the Umatilla office, and made sure it was ok for the exact spot we will be camping. We've camped in this spot for the last 7 plus years, so we have a good fire ring away from any brush/tree life.
Thanks everyone!

And don't worry it won't be as big as the one in my avatar

There is actually two fires that size in the pic if you look closely. We were burning some dead fall piles for some ranchers in eastern Oregon last spring break.

[simpleguy]

Here's the question du jour........how about a wood burning tentstove? It would appear ok, I mean it's not an "open" fire.

[baltz526]

some areas, yes a wood burning stove with spark arester can be legal, but some areas are liquid fuel stoves only

[Adjhunt]

Our buddy's up there have a wood burning stove, and you can only burn in it if campfires are allowed. So we spent some nights and morning in their tent to warm up since it got down to 19 degrees!

We also had a wildfire on the same ridge as us from a lightning bolt. We were thinking that we might have to pack up and leave the night we got there. Thankfully the rain, sleet, and snow put it out.

I'll try and put some pics up later...