Seven Basins Watershed

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HOT WEATHER AHEAD PROMPTS CLOSURE OF MOWING, CHAIN SAW USE IN JACKSON AND JOSEPHINE COUNTIES

Temperatures over 100 will hit southwest Oregon this week, prompting the Oregon Department of Forestry to shut down public use of chain saws, mowers in dry grass, and other power-driven equipment on Wednesday. Loggers and other forestland industrial operators will have fewer operating hours for certain types of equipment as the Industrial Fire Precaution Level rises to III (three).

The public-use fire danger level remains at "extreme" (red).

The following restrictions become effective 1:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 13, and affect state, private, county and Bureau of Land Management forestlands in Jackson and Josephine counties:

* Chain saw use will be prohibited.
* Mowing of dry grass, except for agricultural purposes such as cutting hay, will be prohibited.
* Cutting, grinding or welding metal will be prohibited.



The following public use restrictions remain in effect:

* All open burning of debris is prohibited. This includes burn barrels.
* Fireworks are prohibited, except in cleared areas such as green lawns and driveways.
* Camp fires are allowed only in designated campgrounds. This restriction includes charcoal-fired barbecues; however, stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed.
* Vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, are not allowed on unimproved roads.
* Smoking is allowed only in a vehicle and only while on an improved road.
* Any electric fence controller in use shall contain a listing from a nationally recognized testing laboratory or be certified by the Department of Consumer and Business Services, and be operated in compliance with manufacturer instruction for firesafe operation.



Fire restrictions in the Wild and Scenic Section of the Rogue River are unchanged.



Under Industrial Fire Precaution Level III, the following restrictions will apply as of Wednesday:

* Cable yarding will not be allowed. However, gravity operated-logging systems employing non-motorized carriages may operate until 1:00 p.m. and after 8:00 p.m. These systems must have all blocks and moving lines suspended 10 feet above the ground, except the line between the carriage and the chokers.

* Power saw use will not be allowed. However, power saws may be used until 1:00 p.m. and after 8:00 p.m. at loading sites and on tractor or skidder operations.

* In addition, the following equipment and operations must shut down between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.:

* 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.

* Mechanized loading or hauling of any product or material.

* Blasting

* Welding or cutting of metal

* Any spark-emitting not specifically mentioned above.


For more information about the Oregon Department of Forestry's fire season regulations, contact the unit office in your area:

* Medford Unit, 5286 Table Rock Rd., Central Point. Phone: (541) 664-3328

* Grants Pass Unit, 5375 Monument Drive, Grants Pass. Phone: (541) 474-3152

Southwest Oregon District fire precaution level information is also posted on the World Wide Web at www.swofire.oregon.gov.