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51 °F 5 Day Forecast Wednesday, December 17, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental 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 Email Story to a Friend October 28, 2003 Region’s fire season hangs on tight Southern California’s blazes highlight the fact that fire danger doesn’t go away just because it’s autumn By MARK FREEMAN Mail Tribune Recent hot weather has local fire crews concerned that a late-season blaze could crop up in Southern Oregon’s wildlands. Record heat has kept fire danger high in Southern Oregon, and fire-season restrictions to burning and off-road driving are lingering right up to Halloween. "It’s been kind of odd how fire season hasn’t ended yet," said Dan Thorpe, the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Medford Unit forester. "We’re anxious to get a rain." ODF spokesman Dennis Turco said the combination of hot weather and dry conditions here are not nearly as bad as they are in Southern California, where 400,000 acres and more than 11,000 homes have burned in recent blazes. Advertisement But the Southern California blazes offer a grim reminder that fall does not automatically signal the end of fire danger, said Turco, a fire-prevention specialist. The state forestry’s Central Point office has a 10-person hand crew, a bulldozer and eight engines on hand for initial attack, Thorpe said. The region has not been requested yet to send crews or equipment to Southern California, but the agency would send at least a few engines if requested, Thorpe said. "It’s always really valuable to get people out on a fire of that magnitude and intensity, simply because of what they can learn about those kinds of fires," Thorpe said. Turco said fire restrictions remain in effect throughout Jackson and Josephine counties. All outdoor burning remains banned, and campfires are allowed only in designated locations within county and state parks and campgrounds. There is no driving off improved roads, and smoking in wildlands is allowed only inside enclosed vehicles while on improved roadways free of vegetation. From 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., the public is banned from using chain saws, the non-agricultural mowing of dry grass, non-agricultural and non-commercial use of machines like backhoes and tillers in areas of dry vegetation, and all cutting and welding in areas with flammable vegetation. The area’s Industrial Fire-Precaution Level remains at Level 1. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 776-4470, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times