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Metal thieves get blame for small forest wildfires
From Staff Reports
Wednesday, July 30, 2008 | No comments posted.
There’s metal in them thar hills. And people sneaking out into brushy areas to cut it up to sell for scrap are causing wildland firefighters to lose sleep.
“We’ve had four fires this year related to people cutting metal with a torch,” said Tom Fields, the spokesman for the Coos Forest Protective Association.
One of the fires happened Friday night in Greenacres along the Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad’s tracks next to Green Acres Lane. The agency sent a truck to the area around 8 p.m. to douse a small blaze in the grass. It turned out the fire was caused by someone using a metal cutting torch to dismantle a railroad car in the brush next to the tracks. Portions of the rail car had been removed.
The metal salvage market is booming right now.
“Considering the amount of scrap metal salvaging going on, we’ve been lucky so far in that the fires we’ve had haven’t caused much damage,” Fields said.
The Coos County Sheriff’s Office and CFPA are investigating the incident. On Saturday, forest officers found a small pickup truck at the scene, with a cutting torch in the back. They arrested a Coos Bay woman walking a dog in the area on a warrant charge and questioned a Coos Bay man about the pickup truck, but did not make any other arrests.
CFPA regulates what people can do in rural areas, relating for fire prevention. Right now, the agency is enforcing a regulated use closure that makes it illegal to cut, grind and weld metal on lands protected by CFPA.
Fields said someone cutting up metal caused a brush fire in Cave Junction a couple weeks ago. It charred 69 acres and by the time firefighters put it out the bill totaled $250,000. When it comes to these kinds of brush fires, just because someone might pay taxes that support firefighting agencies doesn’t mean they won’t get the bill.
“If they determine who the responsible party is (and) that person is in violation of the regulated use closure in the district, they would be held responsible for the fire suppression costs,” Fields said.
“We’ve had four fires this year related to people cutting metal with a torch,” said Tom Fields, the spokesman for the Coos Forest Protective Association.
One of the fires happened Friday night in Greenacres along the Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad’s tracks next to Green Acres Lane. The agency sent a truck to the area around 8 p.m. to douse a small blaze in the grass. It turned out the fire was caused by someone using a metal cutting torch to dismantle a railroad car in the brush next to the tracks. Portions of the rail car had been removed.
The metal salvage market is booming right now.
“Considering the amount of scrap metal salvaging going on, we’ve been lucky so far in that the fires we’ve had haven’t caused much damage,” Fields said.
The Coos County Sheriff’s Office and CFPA are investigating the incident. On Saturday, forest officers found a small pickup truck at the scene, with a cutting torch in the back. They arrested a Coos Bay woman walking a dog in the area on a warrant charge and questioned a Coos Bay man about the pickup truck, but did not make any other arrests.
CFPA regulates what people can do in rural areas, relating for fire prevention. Right now, the agency is enforcing a regulated use closure that makes it illegal to cut, grind and weld metal on lands protected by CFPA.
Fields said someone cutting up metal caused a brush fire in Cave Junction a couple weeks ago. It charred 69 acres and by the time firefighters put it out the bill totaled $250,000. When it comes to these kinds of brush fires, just because someone might pay taxes that support firefighting agencies doesn’t mean they won’t get the bill.
“If they determine who the responsible party is (and) that person is in violation of the regulated use closure in the district, they would be held responsible for the fire suppression costs,” Fields said.
Know your fire regulations
There’s a regulated use closure in effect for 1.5 million acres of private, county, state and Bureau of Land Management lands in Coos, Curry and Western Douglas counties.
Loggers and industrial workers no longer are able to blast, weld or cable yard from 1 to 8 p.m. in certain forestland areas. They also are banned from using power saws between these hours, except at loading sites.
Other rural restrictions include:
* No smoking except while in buildings or traveling in vehicles.
* No fireworks.
* No open fires, except at designated locations.
* No metal cutting, grinding or welding.
* Some chain saw restrictions are in place. For specifics, check with CFPA.
* No vehicles, including motorcycles and all terrain vehicles, are allowed off improved roads, unless they are used for agricultural crops.
* All vehicles must carry one gallon of water or one 21⁄2-pound or larger fire extinguisher, one ax, and one shovel, except when traveling on state highways, county roads and driveways. All-terrain vehicles and motorcycles must be equipped with one 21⁄2-pound or larger fire extinguisher, except when traveling on state highways and county roads.
* No mowing of dried and cured grass with power-driven equipment between noon and 8 p.m., except for agriculture.
For up-to-date information on rules, call CFPA’s closure information line at 267-1789 or visit www.coosfpa.net. For burn permits, call 267-3161.
There’s a regulated use closure in effect for 1.5 million acres of private, county, state and Bureau of Land Management lands in Coos, Curry and Western Douglas counties.
Loggers and industrial workers no longer are able to blast, weld or cable yard from 1 to 8 p.m. in certain forestland areas. They also are banned from using power saws between these hours, except at loading sites.
Other rural restrictions include:
* No smoking except while in buildings or traveling in vehicles.
* No fireworks.
* No open fires, except at designated locations.
* No metal cutting, grinding or welding.
* Some chain saw restrictions are in place. For specifics, check with CFPA.
* No vehicles, including motorcycles and all terrain vehicles, are allowed off improved roads, unless they are used for agricultural crops.
* All vehicles must carry one gallon of water or one 21⁄2-pound or larger fire extinguisher, one ax, and one shovel, except when traveling on state highways, county roads and driveways. All-terrain vehicles and motorcycles must be equipped with one 21⁄2-pound or larger fire extinguisher, except when traveling on state highways and county roads.
* No mowing of dried and cured grass with power-driven equipment between noon and 8 p.m., except for agriculture.
For up-to-date information on rules, call CFPA’s closure information line at 267-1789 or visit www.coosfpa.net. For burn permits, call 267-3161.
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