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67 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, September 16, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 24, 2004 Wet weather dampens fire danger But prevention officer says return of hot days will quickly dry the wildlands By PAUL FATTIG Mail Tribune Mother Nature has doused extreme fire danger in Jackson and Josephine counties with a shot of rain and cool temperatures. After more than a quarter-inch of rain was recorded at the National Weather Service office at the Medford airport on Sunday, the Oregon Department of Forestry dropped the fire danger to "high" on Monday. As a result, some restrictions have been eased in the two counties. But Dennis Turco, ODF fire prevention officer, stressed that wildfires remain a real threat to the region. "At this time of year, when it starts to warm up and dry out, it’ll dry out very quickly," he said. "There hasn’t been enough rain to fully saturate the fuels out there." Advertisement If hot weather returns, there is the chance the fire danger may also climb back up, he said. Heavy rains in southern Douglas County helped firefighters in their efforts to stop the Bland Mountain Fire No. 2, which has burned nearly 3,700 acres near Tiller, officials reported. Fire lines contained about 60 percent of that fire by Monday. The fire, which started Friday, burned two homes and three outbuildings. The rain also helped firefighters snuff out the last of the 10 small fires burning in Crater Lake National Park, park officials said Monday. All trails and roads in the park are now open. "We sure needed this," Turco said of the rain. The explosive rate of growth in the Bland Mountain fire illustrated how dry Southern Oregon forests had become, he said. "We want people to have an opportunity to do some work but we want them to continue to be cautious," he added. ODF firefighters protect private, state, county, municipal and U.S. Bureau of Land Management forestlands. The following restrictions are now in effect: Outdoor burning is prohibited. Noncommercial chain saw use is prohibited between 1 and 8 p.m. Nonagricultural mowing of dry grass is prohibited between 1 and 8 p.m. Nonagricultural, noncommercial use of power-driven machinery in areas of flammable vegetation is prohibited between 1 and 8 p.m. Cutting, welding or grinding of metal in areas of flammable vegetation is prohibited. Campfires are allowed only in designated areas such as county and state parks. Use of motorized vehicles off improved roads is prohibited. Smoking is prohibited in wildland areas except in enclosed vehicles while on improved roads, free of flammable vegetation. For commercial forest operators, an Industrial Fire Precaution Level 2 is in effect. For more information about the restrictions, contact the ODF office in Central Point at 664-3328 or in Merlin at 474-3152. Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities