Junction City Fire warns residents about summer fire season; explains ODF restrictions and safe backyard fires

Fire Chief Brandon Hickman told the council that the Oregon Department of Forestry has begun the official fire season, triggering restrictions that can limit use of gas-powered equipment in rural areas and, in some cases, within city practice to reduce ignition risk. Chief Hickman said the district is currently in a moderate/"blue" level for much of the day with excluded times for gas-powered equipment between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m.; higher danger levels expand those excluded hours and "extreme" danger closes most outdoor operations.

Chief Hickman explained the restrictions are tied to humidity recovery during the day and that, when humidity is lowest (early afternoon), the risk of accidental ignition is greatest. He noted battery-powered landscape equipment is generally acceptable at any time, but cautioned residents to keep water on hand and attend small fires. He added that backyard pits for cooking or warming may be used if they are small (generally up to 36 inches diameter and 36 inches high), have a noncombustible three-foot buffer, are continuously attended, and have water readily available; extreme-fire conditions may prohibit even those small pits.

Chief Hickman encouraged residents to monitor ODF and the Junction City Fire Rescue Facebook page for current fire danger levels and to be mindful of high-fire materials such as blackberry vines in alleys. The chief also noted the district is busy (about 800 calls so far in the calendar year) and is running a training academy for new recruits.