Daily fire update - Oct. 4, 2011
No new fires 10 acres or larger were reported in the past 24 hours on the lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry.
Comments and questions
The purpose of this blog is to provide breaking news about wildfire activity on the forestlands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry. We invite you to post questions or comments you have about current wildfires. Please keep your posts civil and free of profanity. You are also welcome to contact us by email at:
information@odf.state.or.us.
Current wildfire info
The onset of fall weather has reduced fire danger across most of the state. But Oregonians are urged to continue to exercise fire safety in the forest and the wildland-urban interface.
While lightning often ignites the largest wildfires, human carelessness accounts for 69 percent of all fire starts on the 16 million acres of forestland protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry.
What we do
Protection jurisdiction
The Oregon Dept. of Forestry protects 16 million acres of private and public forestlands from wildfire. This includes all private forestlands in Oregon as well as state- and local government-owned forests, along with 2.8 million acres of federal Bureau of Land Management lands in the western part of the state. There are about 30.4 million total acres of forest in Oregon.
Wildfire season
Wildfire season began late this year, due to unseasonably cool, wet weather that continued into early summer. Thunderstorms in late August ignited dozens of fires, and crews battled several large lightning-caused blazes on federal forestlands. Fire danger will continue until the onset of fall rains, typically in late October.
Fire suppression policy
The department fights fire aggressively, seeking to put out most fires at 10 acres or smaller. This approach minimizes damage to the timber resource and fish and wildlife habitat, and protects lives and property. It also saves money. Suppression of large fires can run into millions of dollars.
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Have a question/comment about this season's wildfire activity on the 16 million acres of private and public forestlands that the Oregon Dept. of Forestry protects from wildfire? Let us know. Please keep your remarks civil and free of profanity.