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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Emergency services, Aug. 27 ... Film director James Ivory says Lake of the Woods cabin 'goes back to my earliest memories' ... Gymnastics coach again admits to secret filming ... Emergency services, Aug. 27 ... Film director James Ivory says Lake of the Woods cabin 'goes back to my earliest memories' ... Gymnastics coach again admits to secret filming ... Illegal campfire starts Ashland watershed blaze MailTribune.com Writer Posted Aug. 23, 2016 @ 2:45 pm Updated Aug 23, 2016 at 4:22 PM Posted Aug. 23, 2016 @ 2:45 pm Updated Aug 23, 2016 at 4:22 PM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> A pair of illegal campfires recently discovered in the Ashland watershed amounts to "rolling the dice this time of year," according to Chris Chambers, forest division chief at Ashland Fire & Rescue, referring to how easily a fire could spread through the forest and into town during extreme heat and dryness. One campfire Monday escaped and burned about three-quarters of an acre on private land near the Toothpick Trailhead south of Ashland's city limits. “We can’t afford to have illegal camping where one spark could damage homes, our watershed and our economy,” Chambers said. Camping and fires are not allowed at any time of the year on city of Ashland or Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest lands in the vicinity of Ashland. Current Oregon Department of Forestry and city of Ashland fire regulations also prohibit open burning, including the use of portable backyard fireplaces. ODF has seen a number of abandoned campfires this season, including a recent one that started a fire off Redwood Highway in Selma that burned three homes. “It’s hard to imagine that people start campfires this time of year when we’re so vulnerable in Southern Oregon, and it's especially sad that people lost their homes because of it,” said Brian Ballou, fire prevention specialist with ODF’s Southwest Oregon District. All illegal camping around Ashland should be reported so law enforcement can follow up, according to Ashland Fire & Rescue. Any active campfire or smoke can be reported via 911 during the summer fire season. To report illegal camping in forested areas around Ashland, call 541-552-2066 or email [email protected] and describe the location and any vehicles or tents associated with a camp. Legal campsites near Ashland include Emigrant Lake County Park, the Glenyan RV Park near Emigrant Lake and Jackson Wellsprings just northwest of town on Highway 99. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Aug. 23, 2016 @ 2:45 pm Updated Aug 23, 2016 at 4:22 PM » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » 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. calendar Connect with MailTribune.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 Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked 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 2016 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. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501