and portions of the Rogue River and recreational areas were closed as firefighters worked to create a containment line around the fire. On September 6, Northern Rockies Team 6 replaced Northwest IMT 13. By September 16, all evacuations had been lifted by the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management. All teams demobilized by late September when the fire was declared 90% contained on Sept. 23. The largest fires of the season on the district are listed below: Fire Name Acres Cause Rum Creek Fire 21,347 Lightning Ladybug Fire 78 Lightning Keeler Fire 73 Lightning Cheney Creek Fire 30 Lightning Tallowbox Fire 26 Lightning Hog Creek Fire 26 Lightning Anderson Butte Fire 25 Human-caused Wards Creek Fire 16 Lightning
Despite challenges from dry fuels, hot temperatures, and windy conditions throughout the season, ODF firefighters kept 96.6% of fires at 10 acres or less within Jackson and Josephine counties, just shy of ODF’s protection goal of 98%. The termination of fire season removes fire prevention regulations on equipment use and the use of fire for debris burning. This applies to the public and industrial operations on forestlands; however, industrial slash burning is still prohibited. Many structural fire agencies require permits for residential debris burning, please check with your local fire department to obtain any necessary permits before burning and ensure it’s a burn day designated by the county you reside: ■ Jackson County Burn Line: (541) 776-7007 ■ Josephine County Burn Line: (541) 476-9663 Even though the fire season is officially over, please continue to practice fire prevention when burning debris by ensuring a burn pile is never left unattended and using caution when using machinery that could cause a spark. Please be aware that fires can still spread in fall and winter conditions. This region is extremely prone to wildfire, and for that reason, fire knows no season. Fire prevention tips and information from the ODF Southwest Oregon District is available online at Facebook page, @ODFSouthwest and website, www.swofire.com. n
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November 2022 | The Business Review
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