To reduce the risk of human-caused fires, Bureau of Land Management officials have restricted certain activities on public lands in southwest Oregon.
As summer approaches and the weather warms up, fuels are rapidly drying out and firefighters are responding to more fires.
Al Mason, Fire Management Officer for the BLM's Medford District, said people should be prepared when they visit public lands this summer. He said to pack a shovel and fire extinguisher and follow the agency's fire restriction orders to help prevent fires.
The public use restrictions that went into effect on June 1st include a few small steps you can take to help prevent fires. Smoking is prohibited while traveling except in vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water and other designated locations. Power saw users must have a shovel and an 8-ounce or larger fire extinguisher and must maintain a fire watch for at least one hour after saw use.
While traveling in a motor vehicle, visitors must have one shovel and one gallon of water or one 2-1/2-pound or larger fire extinguisher. This includes motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles.
Fireworks are prohibited on BLM public lands along with exploding targets, metal targets and firing tracer or incendiary devices.
For more information on fire season restrictions, contact the Medford BLM District at (541)-618-2200.
