Fire danger increases in Coast Range

From Staff and AP Reports
Friday, September 12, 2008 | No comments posted.

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EUGENE (AP) — Summer is winding down in Western Oregon, but fire danger is not.

The National Weather Service has had danger warnings out for the Willamette Valley and Coast Range this week because of warm temperatures and strong breezes. While it may be cloudy Saturday, conditions expected to return after the one-day respite.

Restrictions on campfires and off-road vehicle use remain in effect in many areas, and wildland firefighters are preparing for extreme conditions.

“We’re making sure we’re fully staffed up because people do tend to let their guard down this time of year,” said Link Smith of the state Forestry Departments Western Lane District.

“But fires burn just fine in low humidities, warmer temperatures and wind, especially in the Coast Range, which often hits the peak fire season late in the year.

The Bandon Fire of 1936, ignited on forestland on Sept. 26 and ravaged the town. Within 15 hours, 95 percent of the town had burned and nine people died, with more perishing later from smoke-damaged lungs.

In recent times, a late August fire in 2002 burned 840 acres near Walton and cost almost $2 million to extinguish, and a late September fire in 1999 along the Siuslaw River burned more than 1,000 acres.

“We’ve had some historic fires at this time of year that were pretty bad,” said State Forestry Department spokesman Rod Nichols. “We don’t want to see any repeats of that. “What’s bad about the current conditions is the combination of warmer weather and a strong wind from the east.”

Smith said that has produced large Coast Range fires in the past.

Temperatures have been in the upper 80s most of this week. After dropping back to the low 80s, they’re forecast to climb into the low 90s and possibly higher Sunday and Monday, said meteorologist Scott Weishaar of the National Weather Service in Portland.

“We’ll be getting close to record temperatures Sunday and Monday,” Weishaar said. “We’re certainly going to be in very elevated fire danger.”

Normal rainfall recorded for September typically is between 1 and 2 inches at the North Bend airport. This month, there has been no measurable rainfall. In August, weather observers recorded 1.29 inches of rain and .07 of an inch in July. The summer rainfall total is 2.58 inches, from June 1 to today.

“We haven’t had significant rainfall for a long time, and the so-called season-ending events we’re looking for eventually certainly haven’t arrived,” said Nichols.

“Everything is still very dry. So we’re certainly asking people to be mindful of what they do out in the woods right now.”

Campers, hunters and outdoor recreationists should contact national forests or the Coos Forest Protective Association for current fire restrictions.

State-protected land remains under a regulated use closure, which limits campfires to developed campgrounds and limits all vehicles to developed roads.
Fire rule changes


What: The Coos Forest Protective Association tightened rules for logging and road-building activities in Curry County today.


What's new: A Level 2 closure is in effect for zones CS-4 (Curry County zone along the ocean), and a Level 3 closure is in effect for zones CS-5 and SK-2 (Curry County inland and mountain zones). For the specific rule details, call the agency’s Gold Beach office at (541) 247-6241 or go online to http://www.coosfpa.net. A map of the area’s affected is available online, too.


Take note: Non-industrial chain saw use is banned in Curry County inland and mountain zones.
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