News & Events
Fire Season Begins June 9, 2023
The Douglas Forest Protective Association (DFPA), the Umpqua National Forest, and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Roseburg District have announced that the 2023 fire season will officially begin Friday, June 9th at 12:01 AM. All private, county, state, and Bureau of Indian Affairs land within the Douglas District as well as the public lands within the Umpqua National Forest and Roseburg District BLM are included in the fire season declaration, which imposes certain fire restrictions on the public and industrial operators to help prevent wildfires.
In addition to the declaration of fire season, the DFPA will implement Public Use Restrictions Friday, and the BLM Roseburg District will issue a Fire Prevention Order for BLM-administered lands. Public use restrictions will be assessed and announced later for the Umpqua National Forest. These fire prevention restrictions are put in place to ensure fire-prone activities do not start wildfires.
For more information on the Umpqua National Forest restrictions, please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/umpqua/fire.
For further information on BLM-managed lands, please visit https://www.blm.gov/orwafire.
The following fire prevention measures will be in effect:
· Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads, boats on the water, and other designated locations.
· Backyard debris burning, including the use of burn barrels, is prohibited.
· Open fires, including campfires, cooking, and warming fires, are prohibited except at designated sites.
BLM-designated sites: Susan Creek Campground, Tyee Campground, Scaredman Campground, Eagleview Campground, and Cavitt Creek Campground.
Douglas County Parks designated sites: Amacher Park, Douglas County Fairgrounds, Pass Creek Campground, Stanton Park, Chief Miwaleta Campground, and Whistler’s Bend Campground.
Private Campgrounds: Seven Feathers RV Resort and Umpqua Riverfront RV Park & Boat Ramp.
· Charcoal and pellet BBQs are only allowed at fully developed and maintained residential home sites when used in areas that are free of flammable vegetation. A charged garden hose or a 2 ½ pound or larger fire extinguisher must be immediately available. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed elsewhere.
· The use of fireworks, exploding targets, and tracer ammunition is prohibited. In addition, the use of sky lanterns is prohibited year-round in Oregon.
· Motor vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, are only allowed on improved roads that are free of flammable vegetation. This restriction is waived on private lands during low fire danger or when vehicles are used for the culture and harvest of agricultural crops. In addition, each vehicle with three or more wheels traveling on forest roads must have an axe, a shovel, and one gallon of water or one operational 2½ pound or larger fire extinguisher. Motorcycles must be equipped with one gallon of water or one operational 2 ½ pound or larger fire extinguisher.
· Any electric fence controller in use shall be listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory or be certified by the Department of Consumer and Business Services and be operated in compliance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
The following restrictions are based on the official fire danger for the Douglas District, which can be found online at www.dfpa.net or by calling DFPA’s 24-hour information line at (541) 672-0379:
· The use of power saws for non-industrial purposes is allowed all day during LOW fire danger. This activity is permitted before 1:00 PM or after 8:00 PM during MODERATE fire danger and before 10:00 AM or after 8:00 PM during HIGH fire danger. During Extreme fire danger, non-industrial power saw use is prohibited. Each power saw is required to have a shovel and a fire extinguisher of at least 8-ounce capacity immediately available. In addition, a one-hour fire watch is required following the use of each saw. On BLM-managed lands in the Roseburg District, the use of non-industrial power saws or other equipment with internal combustion engines used for felling, bucking, skidding, or wood cutting is prohibited.
· The cutting, grinding, or welding of metal for non-industrial purposes is allowed all day during LOW fire danger. This activity is permitted before 1:00 PM or after 8:00 PM during MODERATE fire danger and before 10:00 AM or after 8:00 PM during HIGH fire danger. During EXTREME fire danger, the cutting, grinding, or welding of metal is prohibited. These activities can only be conducted in an area free of flammable vegetation and a charged garden hose or a 2 ½ pound or larger fire extinguisher must be immediately available. The cutting, grinding, or welding of metal is prohibited on BLM-managed lands in the Roseburg District.
· The cutting, trimming, or mowing of dried, cured grass is allowed all day during LOW fire danger. This activity is permitted before 1:00 PM or after 8:00 PM during MODERATE fire danger and before 10:00 AM or after 8:00 PM during HIGH fire danger. During Extreme fire danger, the cutting, trimming, or mowing of dried or cured grass is prohibited. The culture and harvest of agricultural crops are exempt from this requirement.
· Any non-industrial improvement or development taking place on private property that utilizes power-driven machinery may operate all day during LOW fire danger. These activities are permitted before 1:00 PM or after 8:00 PM during MODERATE fire danger and before 10:00 AM or after 8:00 PM during HIGH fire danger. During EXTREME fire danger, these activities are prohibited unless a waiver has been issued. Each piece of power-driven machinery working is required to have a shovel and a 2 ½ pound or larger fire extinguisher. In addition, a fire watch is required for at least one hour once the equipment has completed work for the day.
The declaration of fire season also means the start of industrial fire regulations. On Friday, the entire Douglas District and the Umpqua National Forest will go into Industrial Fire Precaution Level I (one). During IFPL I, smoking is prohibited while working on or traveling through an industrial operation. In addition, specified fire tools and suppression equipment must be on-site and ready for use at all industrial operations and a fire watch is required once work has been completed for the day.
Additional fire restrictions or closures may be in place through private industrial landowners or other public land management agencies on their own or managed lands. For more information about public and industrial fire restrictions, visit the following sites:
- Douglas Forest Protective Association: www.dfpa.net/public-fire-restrictions
- Bureau of Land Management, Roseburg District: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions
- Umpqua National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/umpqua/alerts-notices/?cid=fsbdev3_056210
Budget Committee Member Opening
The Winston-Dillard Fire District has a vacant position available on the Budget Committee. If you are interested in filling this position, please drop off a resume at our station located at 250 SE Main St Winston Or. The resume needs to be dropped off by April 14, 2023. If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call at 541-679-8721.
BOARD REGULAR MEETING NOTICE
The Board of Directors of Winston-Dillard Fire District No. 5 will hold its Regular Board meeting at WDFD Fire Station at 250 SE Main St., Winston, OR on Monday, January 16, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. To comply with House Bill 2560, those that wish to participate can attend through videoconferencing or telephonically. If you plan on attending the meeting, please call the business office at 541-679-8721 during normal business hours prior to 4:00 p.m. on Monday, January 16, 2023, for instructions.
The Board agenda to include but not limited to:
1. Monthly Financials
2. Intergovernmental Agreement for the Transfer of Fire Protection Equipment
3. Central Douglas Fire & Rescue Authority Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) For Fire and
Emergency Services and Creation of New ORS Chapter 190 Entity
4. Ordinance 2023-01 Adopting an Intergovernmental Agreement and Creating a New
Intergovernmental Agency “Central Douglas Fire & Rescue Authority” (1st reading and Hearing)
The meeting location is accessible to persons with disabilities. A request for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or for other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours before the meeting to Winston-Dillard Fire District No. 5 at 541-679-8721
Fire Season 2022 Ends
The 2022 fire season officially ends Sunday, October 23rd, 2022 as a result of recent wetting rains and an overall cooling trend that has returned to the area. With the end of fire season, both public and industrial fire restrictions that were implemented through DFPA will no longer be in effect.
A list of fire restrictions and closures in place through private industrial landowners can be found online at https://ofic.com/private-forestland-closures/.
Despite fire season coming to an end, fire officials advise residents to exercise caution when burning yard debris or when using fire in the woods. Several days of sunshine and dry weather during the fall months can create a fire risk even if a week or more of cool, wet conditions precede them.
When burning yard debris, make sure to have an adequate fire trail around the pile before ignition begins and have fire tools and water supply at the burn site. Debris piles should never be left unattended and should be fully extinguished before leaving the area. If a debris burn escapes containment, the responsible party may be held financially responsible for the resulting fire suppression costs and associated damages. Please remember that yard debris means organic yard waste such as leaves and branches. Burning of trash, cardboard, and construction materials is never permitted.
FIRE SEASON BEGINS JUNE 24, 2022
Douglas County Fire District No. 2 and Winston-Dillard Fire District will be joining the Douglas Forest Protective Association (DFPA), the Umpqua National Forest, and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Roseburg District in announcing that the 2022 fire season will officially begin Friday, June 24th at 12:01 AM. Douglas County Fire District No.2 and Winston – Dillard Fire District will be following the same fire restriction listed with DFPA.
FIRE SEASON IN EFFECT
For Burn Information, Click HERE.
Upcoming Meetings
Winston – Dillard Fire District Board Meeting
Date: Monday August 19, 2024
Time: 5:30PM
Location: 250 SE Main St, Winston Oregon