Oregon Dept. of Forestry issued this news release

[poorboy1]

Oregon Dept. of Forestry issued this news release today.
>
> For Immediate Release Major Media Distribution
> September 21, 2005 Contacts:
> 05-71 Rod Nichols,
> ODF, 503-945-7425
> Kenn Condon,
> ODFW, 503-947-6015
>
> Wildfire danger lingers as fall hunt nears
>
> Safe handling of firearms is foremost in the mind of every
responsible
> hunter preparing for the October deer season opener. Fire safety
> should be a key concern as well, since the recent onset of fall
> weather has not yet quelled the danger of wildfire.
>
> This year to date, more than three-fourths of the wildfires on
> State-protected forestlands have been started by people. The Oregon
> departments of Fish and Wildlife and Forestry remind hunters and
other
> visitors to the forest of some of the key causes of
recreation-related
> wildfires: campfires and warming fires, off-road riding and driving,
> and smoking.
>
> CAMPFIRES - Unattended campfires that spread to adjacent vegetation
> account for many of the human-caused wildfires each year. A campfire
> should be kept small and the surrounding area cleared of vegetation.
> Don't build a campfire where overhanging tree limbs could catch fire.
> And never build a fire atop exposed or shallow tree roots. The heat
> can ignite the roots and start a "sleeper fire." This smoldering,
> smokeless blaze may go unnoticed, then flare up days later. Before
> your outing, check with the local land management agency office to
> learn whether campfires are allowed. In some areas open fires may be
> prohibited, while enclosed camp stoves are allowed. Before heading
out
> to hunt in the morning or retiring at night, make sure your fire is
> dead out. Drown it with water, stir all coals and drown again.
>
> WARMING FIRES - A cool morning sit on the hillside waiting for
animals
> to move makes a warming fire an inviting prospect. A warming fire is
> OK if regulations allow, but it should be tended as carefully as a
> regular campfire. And be sure it is completely out before moving on.
A
> smoldering fire under humid conditions early in the day can become a
> runaway blaze later on as the sun dries forest fuels.
>
> OFF-ROADING - Driving or riding motorized vehicles off of improved
> roads is a leading cause of fires in the forest. Four-wheel-drives,
> motorcycles and ATVs pose a threat via the heat and sparks they
> generate. Oregon law requires a muffler. On cycles and ATVs, a spark
> arrester is recommended. On full-size vehicles, be sure the exhaust
> pipe, catalytic converter and muffler are free of grass and twigs
that
> could ignite. Check with the local land management agency to
determine
> whether use of motorized vehicles off of improved roads is permitted.
>
> SMOKING - Discarded cigarettes rank high among the causes of wildfire
> year after year. If you smoke, clear an area down to mineral soil and
> stay inside that area while smoking. And when finished, make sure
> cigarettes and matches are completely extinguished. If possible,
> discard them in an ashtray or other container. Again, it is important
> to check on current fire regulations before heading afield, as there
> may be restrictions on smoking.
>
> In certain situations, firearms can also pose a wildfire threat.
> Shooting with the muzzle close to the ground in dry, brushy areas can
> discharge unburned or burning gunpowder into forest fuels.
> Occasionally, wadding from shotguns will burn for two to three
seconds
> after leaving the barrel.
>
> At the peak of the 2005 wildfire season, corporate forestlands were
> closed to public access. Forest owners may loosen restrictions as
fire
> danger declines. To check the current status of these lands, go to
the
> Oregon Department of Forestry website,
> www.oregon.gov/ODF/FIRE/corporate_closure.shtml.
>