As of Friday, June 15, certain fire restrictions were put into effect for Creswell, Cottage Grove and the surrounding areas within South Lane County Fire & Rescue boundaries, according to SLCF&R Fire Chief John Wooten.
Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water and other designated locations.
Open fires are prohibited, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, except at locations where firepits are present. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed. Briquette use is allowed in barbeques, but is restricted to use on hard, non-flammable surfaces such as patios, driveways, gravel or green irrigated lawns.
Power saw use is permitted all day during low fire danger, before 1 p.m. and after 8 p.m. during moderate fire danger, and before 10 a.m. and after 8 p.m. during high fire danger. The use of power saws is prohibited during extreme fire danger. Each power saw is required to have one shovel and one fire extinguisher of at least an eight-ounce capacity immediately available. A firewatch of at least one hour is required following the use of each saw.
Cutting, grinding and welding of metal is permitted all day during low fire danger, before 1 p.m. and after 8 p.m. during moderate fire danger, and before 10 a.m. and after 8 p.m. during high fire danger as long as it is conducted in a cleared area and has a charged garden hose or one 2.5-pound or larger fire extinguisher immediately available. This activity is prohibited during extreme fire danger.
The mowing of dried, cured grass is permitted all day during low fire danger, before 1 p.m. and after 8 p.m. during moderate fire danger, before 10 a.m. and after 8 p.m. during high fire danger, and is prohibited during extreme fire danger. The culture and harvest of agricultural crops is exempt from this requirement.
Motor vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, are only allowed on improved roads free of flammable vegetation, except for the culture and harvest of agricultural crops.
Use of illegal fireworks is prohibited at all times, and in any location within the District. Legal firework use is permitted in areas free of dried, cured grasses, brush or trees unless prohibited in areas jointly protected by SLCF&R and the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF). Generally and where permitted, firework use is only permitted on asphalt, concrete or gravel, and when a charged garden hose or one 2.5-pound or larger fire extinguisher is immediately available.
These restrictions shall remain in effect until replaced, suspended or terminated by an additional proclamation of the SLCF&R Fire Chief or an authorized representative.
