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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Barking up the wrong tree ... Guest Opinion: Why Republicans oppose the Iran agreement ... Attorney general investigating Klamath County Sheriff's Office ... Our View: Barking up the wrong tree ... Guest Opinion: Why Republicans oppose the Iran agreement ... Attorney general investigating Klamath County Sheriff's Office ... WILDFIRES Fires banned in state parks Comment By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune DailyTidings.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 19, 2015 at 12:14 PM Updated Aug 19, 2015 at 4:05 PM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 19, 2015 at 12:14 PM Updated Aug 19, 2015 at 4:05 PM » Social News If you're planning to camp at an Oregon state park and were looking forward to a crackling fire, you're out of luck — even on the coast.  The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has banned fires of any kind in state parks, including candles, tiki torches and fires in  designated fire pits or on ocean beaches.  The ban will be in effect for at least a week, and it will be re-evaluated based on fire activity and weather forecasts, officials said.  "Our goal is to avoid any accidental fires on (parks) property that would further tax limited firefighting resources," Parks and Recreation Deputy Director M.G. Deveraux said in a news release. "Most communities have sent local firefighters and equipment to help with wildfires throughout the state. An unintentional fire in a state park would add an unnecessary burden to firefighting efforts." Parks department spokesman Chris Havel said it is the first time the department has enacted such a ban since the first campgrounds opened in 1951. He added that he does not anticipate it will have much of an impact on park attendance. "People still have a great time. That time you spend around a campfire is important, but the hiking, the swimming, the fishing, the playing on the beach, boating, all of those things are still going on," Havel said. "I think people will generally be pretty understanding." Park officials said the ban does not apply to propane stoves or charcoal briquettes, but there could be additional local restrictions. For more details, call the state park information line at 1-800-551-6949 or see www.oregonstateparks.org .  "Hopefully this time next week, conditions will have moderated and we can lift it," Havel said Wednesday.  Jackson County has instituted campfire bans at several of its parks, as well. Campfires are temporarily prohibited at Lily Glen, Grizzly Creek, Willow Point and Klum Landing until further notice. There is also a ban at numerous campsites on the outer camp loop sites at the Oak Slope campground.  Campfires are still allowed in designated fire rings in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, but no fires are allowed in the wilderness, according to a news release from the U.S. Forest Service. Wildfires continue to burn in Central and Eastern Oregon. The largest, the Cornet-Windy Ridge blaze southeast of Baker City, had grown to more than 103,000 acres Wednesday morning,  according to the Incident Information System website .  Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune DailyTidings.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 19, 2015 at 12:14 PM Updated Aug 19, 2015 at 4:05 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501