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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 27, 2005 2005 fire season concludes with light rain By BILL KETTLER Mail Tribune State forestry officials closed the books on the 2005 fire season Wednesday after light rain fell across Southern Oregon. Forecasters’ predictions for more cool and damp weather through the weekend prompted foresters to lift the ban on open burning — the last vestige of fire-prevention restrictions that were imposed when fire season began on June 27. Open and barrel burning are now allowed in most areas of Jackson County. Burning must be done in compliance with local fire department restrictions and air pollution guidelines. Most of the region received at least .2 inches of rain, although drier areas such as the Medford airport measured as little as .05 inches. With the promise of more moisture on the horizon, the modest rain was enough to end the fire season, said Greg Alexander, Medford unit forester for the Oregon Department of Forestry. Alexander said firefighters will remember the 122-day fire season for its late start. Cool, damp weather persisted well into June, but once the rain stopped, hot weather came on fast and fire danger climbed rapidly. Advertisement "By mid-July, things dried out," he said. "When we had fires there was a good chance we were going to have problems." For many Rogue Valley residents, the most visible of Alexander’s "problems" was the Wasson fire, which started July 26 when a tractor-trailer overturned along Highway 140 east of Lake Creek. The fire burned for six days in steep, rocky terrain near the highway before firefighters corralled it at 1,500 acres. A month later, the Deer Creek Fire burned about 1,500 acres in Josephine County. Local firefighters also worked a section of the Blossom Complex Fire, which burned along the Rogue River through late July and early August. Statistically, the fire season was unusual for its relatively few lightning-caused fires. There were just 12 lightning-kindled fires in 2005, compared to the 10-year average of 59 per year. Alexander said there were 176 human-caused fires reported in the two-county region, one more than the 10-year average of 175. The low incidence of lightning fires held the total number of fires for the season at 187, well below the annual average of 233 fires. Viewed as a whole, the human-caused fires accounted for more than 93 percent of all the fires reported in the district. The largest single factor in human-caused fires was improper use of mechanical equipment such as farm machinery, brush cutters and mowers. Improper equipment use accounted for 67 of the human-caused fires, 38 percent of the total. Alexander said an air tanker based at the Medford airport this summer helped firefighters stop at least 11 fires. He said state forestry officials would decide over the winter whether to station a tanker in Southern Oregon for the summer of 2006. Yard waste burning OK in some areas The end of fire season marks the beginning of the burning season for yard waste and woody debris. Open burning is now allowed in most of Jackson County, but not within the city limits of Medford and Jacksonville. Burning is permitted only on days when there is adequate air movement to ensure that smoke does not hang in low-lying areas. Burning conditions are evaluated daily. Information about whether it’s OK to burn on any given day can be obtained by calling local fire departments. For most of Jackson County, dial 776- 7007 for daily burn information. In the Rogue River area, dial 582-2876. Some fire districts, such as Ashland, require a permit to burn. Contact your local fire department to find out whether you need a permit, and whether there are limits on what can be burned. Ashland, for example, does not allow barrel burning, and burn piles may not be larger than 5 feet across and 3 feet high. Reach reporter Bill Kettler at 776-4492, or e-mail 2005 fire season concludes with light rain ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Cheap Website Hosting Discount Hotel Reservations Online Pharmacy Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Student Loans High End Computers Online Casino News Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Salvia Divinorum Online Casino Fundraisers Advertisement s