JOHN DAY – Public use restrictions have been eased to allow firewood cutting in both the north and south zones of the Malheur National Forest, beginning Friday, Sept. 5.

The change came as cooler temperatures have reduced, though not eliminated, the risk of wildland fire, announced Rob Batten, deputy fire management officer.

However, both zones remain at an IFPL 2 and firewood cutters are reminded that a 1-hour fire watch is required as a condition of their permit.

“Forest conditions are still very dry, and fire danger continues to be high, especially at lower elevations,” said Batten. “With the beginning of hunting season and the current dry conditions, the threat of human-caused fires increases, therefore other Public Use Restrictions will remain in place.”

Public-use restrictions prohibit the following:

? Building, maintaining, tending, or using a fire, campfire, and wood stove and briquette fires outside of designated recreation sites. When building a campfire at a designated site, hunters, campers, and visitors are asked to comply with fire restrictions and to ensure that their campfire is completely extinguished before leaving it unattended. The list of designated recreation sites is located on the Forest website, at the link below.

? No fires are allowed in the Monument Rock or Strawberry Mountain Wildernesses.

? Off-road vehicle travel is not allowed.

? The use of generators, and other internal combustion engines in timber, grass, or brush is prohibited.

? Smoking is not permitted while traveling through timber, brush, or grass. Smoking is only permitted in an enclosed vehicle, building, or within specific developed recreation sites. Smoking is also allowed while stopped in an area that is at least three feet in diameter and is cleared of all flammable material.

? Liquid gas stoves and heaters are allowed.

? Generators may be used if in a clear, dirt circle no less than 10 feet in diameter or in the bed of a pickup that has been cleared of flammable material.

Motorized travel on segments of road where access is blocked by gate, barricade, log, boulder, or earthen berm is also prohibited.

A regulated closure on private land protected by Oregon Department of Forestry in northeast Oregon remains in effect. Complete information on ODF’s regulated closure is available on the web via the link below, or at their nearest office.