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1 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 What are your Halloween plans? ... OR-7 goes off the radar ... Chef's dream of peddling pies in a pub comes true ... What are your Halloween plans? ... OR-7 goes off the radar ... Chef's dream of peddling pies in a pub comes true ... WILDFIRES Wildfire season over in Oregon's southwest district Comment By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune DailyTidings.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 28, 2015 at 9:21 AM Updated Oct 28, 2015 at 4:38 PM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 28, 2015 at 9:21 AM Updated Oct 28, 2015 at 4:38 PM » Social News That's a wrap. Wildfire season in Oregon's southwest district ended at 7 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Oregon Department of Forestry. Overnight rains delivered the final blow to the 145-day season that began June 5. The Rogue Valley was inundated with smoke for several weeks from the Stouts Creek fire in Douglas County and National Creek Complex near Crater Lake, but those fires were not on ODF's southwest district, handled instead by crews from the Douglas Forest Protective Association and Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. The district, which covers 1.8 million acres in Jackson and Josephine counties, saw relatively few fires. "We came out of it real well," said ODF spokesman Brian Ballou. According to ODF data, 247 fires were reported on the southwest district this fire season, but they amounted to only about 262 acres burned. Lightning sparked 53 of the fires, which burned 89 acres, with the other 194 caused by people, burning 173 acres. Costs were not immediately available. The fire danger level has dropped to low, and regulations on equipment use and debris burning have been lifted. Local fire districts require permits for debris burning, however. Jackson County residents can call 541-776-7007 to see whether weather conditions will allow for burning. Josephine County residents can call 541-476-9663. Rain began at about 10 p.m. Tuesday, prompting ODF to declare the fire season's end. Brian Nieuwenhuis, meteorologist at the National Weather Service, said about .17 inches fell overnight into Wednesday morning in Medford, with .15 inches reported in Ashland, .17 inches in Central Point, and about .16 inches at Lost Creek Lake. More precipitation is forecast for this weekend, starting with a wet Halloween and concluding with possible snow in the mountains Sunday night. "The first strong, moisture-laden system of the season is expected to arrive Saturday evening and remain in the area through Sunday," according to a special weather statement released by the weather service Wednesday afternoon. "The system is likely to result in significant rains and gusty winds, as well as mountain snows Sunday night. There remains a good deal of uncertainty in the details, but confidence is high that adverse weather will impact the area this weekend." Snow levels are predicted to drop to about 4,000 feet, so snow could fall on area passes. "There's a potential for the passes to need a plow, but we're not talking serious inches upon inches of snow," Nieuwenhuis said. "There's a potential for an inch or two, maybe three." 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 Oct. 28, 2015 at 9:21 AM Updated Oct 28, 2015 at 4:38 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... 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