Number of June Fires are Concerning, June 29

Coos Forest Protective Association (CFPA) averages just under five human-caused fires each June. This June, there have already been 16 human-caused fires. Having an over 300% increase in human-caused fires is disturbing anytime, but with record setting dry fuels and the Fourth of July just around the corner, fire officials are concerned. Besides the number of human-caused fires, officials report the number of citations for burning are also above average. “We need the public to understand this is not an average year. We need people to know and follow the closures in place and consider the fire risks of all their outdoor activities.” said John Flannigan, CFPA’s Prevention Specialist. The current public closure is a Regulated Use Closure. It is prime time for camping, fireworks and ATV riding, as well as outdoor work like mowing and firewood cutting. The Regulated Use Closure effects all of these activities. Details can be found at www.coosfpa.net or by calling a CFPA office. Fire wardens are increasing patrols and adding initial attack resources, including a helicopter that doesn’t usually start until the end of July. The weather forecast is for hot and dry conditions to continue. “We are taking the current fire danger seriously and asking the public to do the same.” said Flannigan. The shortage of rain and the short duration of the rainfall that has caused the hydrological drought has also left wildland fuels abnormally dry. Wildland fuels require time to soak up moisture and they didn’t get much of that last winter. Combine that with the ongoing drought and no rain for the last 24 days, and fuels are at late July or August levels.