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Drier weather conditions could spark fire season By PAUL FATTIG The hills and valleys of Jackson and Josephine counties may be green, but Dan Thorpe already is seeing red. Although official fire season is not yet in effect, there are signs of a flickering fire danger, observed Thorpe, the Medford Unit forester for the state Department of Forestry�s Southwest District whose crews fight fires on state-protected land in the two counties. One sure sign was the fire that scorched three acres after escaping from a slash burn in the Greensprings area late Tuesday afternoon, he said. "When it starts to dry out the fire danger comes on pretty fast," Thorpe said. The department�s firefighters protect Bureau of Land Management, state, county and private brush lands. Memorial Day weekend, which marks the traditional beginning of camping season and related outdoor activities, can spark a wildfire, he noted. "There is that opportunity, particularly with dispersed camping away from improved campgrounds," he said. Campers should ensure their campfire is in a safe place and dead out before they leave, he said. But you don�t have to be in the outback to start a wildfire, Thorpe said. "It seems like every year we have a couple of fires where someone had a barbecue on Saturday, dumps the ashes over the hill on Monday and starts a fire," he said. Given the recent warming trend, lots of weeds and brush are sprouting up following a mild winter and spring, he said. Fire season in the two counties can start as late as the end of June, although it historically begins earlier, he said. During an average local fire season, about 300 fires are ignited, burning roughly 1,000 acres, Thorpe said. "We�re probably still a couple of weeks away," he said. "This is a perfect three-day weekend to start dealing with weeds and grasses before they dry out." The department recommends residents cut grasses from around a home before the grass dries out, creating a defensible space since dry grass burns quick and hot. Although open burning is not yet banned, officials are discouraging it because of the growing potential for wildfires, Thorpe said. Burning permits are required in many areas. Residents should check with their local fire departments to determine if a permit is required. They should also determine if the air conditions are favorable for burning by calling 776-7007 in Jackson County or 476-9663 in Josephine County. Instead of burning debris, residents are urged to consider mulching, chipping or recycling. However, aside from noting the coming fire season will be less severe if people use common sense and caution, Thorpe wasn�t about to make any predictions about this summer�s wildfires. "As we always say, ask me at Christmas," he said. Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA