Fire Restrictions Tighten, July 7

The continued warming trend has prompted the Coos Forest Protective Association to increase industrial restrictions in wildland areas. Effective at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, July 7th, CFPA will impose an Industrial Fire Precaution Level III (three) on industrial operations on all State, County, Private and BLM lands within CS-5 and SK-2. Under IFPL 3, industrial operators are prohibited in performing the following: • Cable yarding – except that gravity operated logging systems with non-motorized carriages may operate before 1:00 p.m. and after 8:00 p.m. when all blocks and moving lines are suspended 10 feet above ground, except the line between the carriage and the chokers; • Power saws – except at loading sites and at tractor skidder operations before 1 p.m. and after 8 p.m. local time; In addition, the following are permitted before 1 p.m. and after 8 p.m.; • Tractor, skidder, feller-buncher, forwarder, or shovel logging operations where tractors, skidders, or other equipment with a blade capable of constructing fireline are immediately available to quickly reach and effectively attack a fire start; • Mechanized loading or hauling of any product or material; • Blasting; • Welding or cutting of metal; Any other spark emitting operation not specifically mentioned. Under the current Regulated Use Closure, use of non-industrial chainsaws is now prohibited in Regulated Use Areas CS-5 and SK-2.