Oregon State Parks Fire/open flame ban!

4x4van wrote:
Not sure I understand the ban on propane firepits. What the difference between a propane firepit and a propane stove/grille?

one allows you to have a way to cook. The other is generally for "ambiance". FWIW in oregon usually propane fire pits are allowed if they can be shut off with a valve. But when fire danger gets high enough banning propane fire pits eliminates one more possible source of a fire.

Right now most of oregon is tinder dry, even in the normally wet Portland area. roadside vegitation looks more like late august, even coast campgrounds have lots of brown vegitation. Eastern oregon is even worse.

It won't suprise me if some campgrounds and forest areas get closed to all access if this weather keeps up.

Not sure I understand the ban on propane firepits. What the difference between a propane firepit and a propane stove/grille?

It's official from the OSP fire restriction website.

Last year in Sept we were at the coast, even though no fires nearby we were prepared and at night had everything ready to go. During the day a Power line came down, wire across the road low enough that trailers couldn't get under.

Next morning about 8 am in came sheriff lights on, 30 minutes to get out, fire started and with only one road out they didn't want to risk it and were closing the campground.

he did say on the way in the crew had taken down the line and cleared the road. 15 minutes later we where on the way out. heavy smoke from a fire that started earlier and was moving fast.

Luckily the fire never made it to the road but lots of people had to evacuate from houses on the road and head to the fairgrounds for shelter.

And WA, ID and MT. Probably CO WY and the rest of the western states.
Not surprising

ktmrfs wrote:

gtnsmlr wrote:
I would advise anyone camping in the woods to do a serious evaluation of just how fast they can roll up and bug out at a moments notice.

and make sure you have more than ONE way out!!

The other thing to watch is the weather, especially the wind, both strength and direction.
We had a couple camp host loose their rigs during last years fires here in Oregon because the winds made the fires move so fast. We have hosted with a couple different host that had to just disconnect power and drains and get out with TV and trailer only.

gtnsmlr wrote:
I would advise anyone camping in the woods to do a serious evaluation of just how fast they can roll up and bug out at a moments notice.

and make sure you have more than ONE way out!!

I would advise anyone camping in the woods to do a serious evaluation of just how fast they can roll up and bug out at a moments notice.

Considering we can see and smell the western fire smoke 30 miles off the coast of Massachusetts this sounds like a good idea!

Dave

ktmrfs wrote:

rhagfo wrote:
We just got an update from our pear Ranger!

Be advised Starting Thursday July 22nd 2021. There is now a full fire ban in all Oregon State Parks and State managed forest land EAST of Interstate 5.

This includes Charcoal fires, cooking fires, warming fires, charcoal briquettes, Candles, Tiki torches and other devices that flames or embers. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottle fuels are allowed, though propane fire pits are NOT allowed!

link for oregon state parks fire restrictions:

https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=v.feature-article&articleId=285

restrictions are getting stronger every day and it's definitely tinder dry with winds coming in.

the above link list restrictions as of today, not tomorrow or thursday.

We are currently on the east side Deshutes River SP, winds today topped 22 mph, most days see at least 14 mph. Actually cool today only 88 degrees, has been 92 to 102 since the 1st of July when we got here.

rhagfo wrote:
We just got an update from our pear Ranger!

Be advised Starting Thursday July 22nd 2021. There is now a full fire ban in all Oregon State Parks and State managed forest land EAST of Interstate 5.

This includes Charcoal fires, cooking fires, warming fires, charcoal briquettes, Candles, Tiki torches and other devices that flames or embers. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottle fuels are allowed, though propane fire pits are NOT allowed!

link for oregon state parks fire restrictions:

https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=v.feature-article&articleId=285

restrictions are getting stronger every day and it's definitely tinder dry with winds coming in.

the above link list restrictions as of today, not tomorrow or thursday.