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After a fire season lasting 151 days, the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Southwest Oregon District is out of the woods on wildfires. ODF declared fire season ended at 9 a.m. today, an announcement that affects state, private, city and county forestlands in Jackson and Josephine counties. According to an ODF release, the 2018 fire season was challenging due to high temperatures and a July 15 lightning storm that ignited fires throughout the region. Preliminary totals for the season show ODF firefighters taking on 348 wildland fires totaling roughly 50,000 acres. Of those fires, 106 were directly linked to lightning. This total fire count does include fires on national forestlands, including such fires as the 175,000-acre Klondike fire in Josephine County. The Klondike fire is today listed at 80 percent contained. At one point it merged with the Taylor Creek fire burning west of Merlin and the two fires’ burned area is listed at 227,538 acres. The Taylor Creek portion of the fire has been listed at 95 percent contained for weeks. Following Monday's declaration of the end of fire season, the Jackson and Josephine County sheriff's offices announced the elimination of any remaining wildfire evacuation zones within the two counties. All remaining Level One "Be Ready" evacuation levels have been lifted, including Level One zones that may have remained for safety and security. Those zones have been in place this summer and fall near several wildfires, including the Klamathon fire, Wagner Creek Complex, Garner Complex, Taylor Creek fire, Klondike fire, Miles fire, Ramsey Canyon fire and the Hugo Road fire. The end of fire season removes restrictions on ODF-covered land for equipment use and debris burning. This applies to the public and industrial operations on forestlands. However, many fire agencies require permits for debris burning, so it is recommended you check with your local fire department to obtain any necessary permits before burning.