With hot and dry conditions expected to continue and an increasing number of wildfires around the northwest, the Emigrant Creek Ranger District, Malheur National Forest increased to IFPL3, Phase B of Public Use Restrictions and Extreme Fire Danger at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, July 23.

Public use restrictions help protect the land, resources, and visitors from human caused fires. Officials carefully consider the current fire situation, fuel moisture and predicted weather before making the decision to implement fire restrictions.

Starting on Monday, under Phase B of Public Use Restrictions:

• Campfires will only be allowed in designated campgrounds and recreation sites. Liquefied or bottled gas stoves and heaters are allowed for cooking and heating. A list of designated recreation sites is available on the forest’s websites.

• Operating an internal combustion engine, such as a chainsaw, is prohibited. The public is reminded that personal-use firewood cutting is governed under current Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) restrictions. The public should refer to their Personal Use Firewood permit for terms and conditions.

• Generators will only be allowed in the center of an area at least 10 feet in diameter that is cleared of all flammable material, or; when fully contained within a pickup truck bed that is devoid of all flammable material, or; when factory installed in a recreational vehicle and the generator exhaust discharge is located in the center of an area at least 10 feet in diameter that is cleared of all flammable material.

• Smoking is only allowed within enclosed vehicles, buildings, and developed recreation sites or when stopped in an area cleared of all flammable material.

• It is prohibited to operate a motorized vehicle off National Forest System roads, operate a motor vehicle on National Forest System roads where vegetation or other flammable material comes into contact with the vehicle’s undercarriage, along with being on a closed National Forest System road where access has been impeded or blocked by earthen berm, logs, boulders, barrier, barricade or gate.

Continued awareness of the increased fire danger and cooperation is essential to a safe fire season. Recreationists, firewood cutters, hunters, and other forest users can all help by closely adhering to restrictions, operating safely and cautiously and keeping up-to-date on the latest orders and regulations.

Regulated closures are in effect on state and private lands protected by Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) in northeast and central Oregon. Please check with a local Oregon Department of Forestry office for public use restrictions on lands protected by ODF.

For complete details about current conditions on the Malheur National Forest please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/malheur/  or contact your local district office in John Day, Prairie City, or Hines.