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Extreme fire danger and ongoing wildfires in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest have triggered a shutdown of commercial activity on Forest Service lands throughout most of Jackson County. The forest issued an immediate shutdown Tuesday of operations for commercial contractors and all permit-holders — including those with permits to cut firewood for personal use — in its High Cascades and Siskiyou Mountains ranger districts, forest spokeswoman Chamise Kramer said. The High Cascades district is home to a string of lightning-caused fires — all battled collectively as the Miles fire — with operations run out of Stewart State Park. That fire was listed Tuesday at just under 50,000 acres and 54 percent contained. The Siskiyou Mountains district is home to the northern tip of the Hendrix fire, a 1,082-acre lightning fire that is estimated to be contained by Friday morning. Tuesday’s announcement was anticipated by loggers and mill operators, who typically see operational shutdowns in Southern Oregon forests in late summer because of wildfire danger and extreme conditions. “We’ve been waiting for the other shoe to drop,” said David Schott, executive director of the Medford-based Southern Oregon Timber Industries Association. “Things are so dry. It’s just a tinder box out there. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see this last two or three weeks,” Schott said. “We need some rain.” Under Forest Service rules, no waivers will be issued during the shutdown. The High Cascades district covers the Butte Falls-Powers area, while the Siskiyou Mountain district is centered out of the former Star Ranger Station near Applegate Lake. The shutdown order does not apply to the Wild Rivers Ranger District near Grants Pass and Cave Junction, nor to the Gold Beach Ranger District centered in Brookings. Those districts are receiving more of a marine wind push at night, so the feeling among forest fire managers is that the risk grows the farther inland one goes, Kramer said. Commercial logging operators in those two districts are under Level 3, or partial shutdown, restrictions that only allow some cable yarding and the use of power saws on loading sites and on tractor-skidder operations, according to the forest. Level 3 restrictions ban welding, loading, hauling or blasting between 1 and 8 p.m. daily. The industrial restrictions do not apply to recreational users regulated under different rules. Those include bans on campfires other than in concrete or metal fire rings or fireplaces in Forest Service campgrounds. Liquid- and propane-fueled commercials stoves are allowed for cooking, as well. The commercial closures also do not restrict hunting, Kramer said. Reach Mail Tribune reporter Mark Freeman at 541-776-4470 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MTwriterFreeman.