Area fire danger hits Extreme level

On Wednesday morning at 12:01 a.m. Extreme Fire Danger restrictions went into effect for the South Cascade District of the Oregon Dept. of Forestry (ODF), which includes Eastern Lane and Linn counties. The designation includes public use restrictions, and an Industrial Fire Precaution Level 3 industrial closure.

According to ODF officials, the area passed the threshold for Extreme Fire Danger a few days ago, with near record high levels of fire danger for this time of year.

"The weather forecast shows that these numbers will continue to rise starting Wednesday when the heat returns," according to an ODF spokesman

During Extreme Fire Danger no open fires are allowed, including campfires, on lands protected by the South Cascade ODF. Existing campfire waivers and other regulated use waivers are also void during Extreme Fire Danger, but can be re-issued when the area returns to a lower fire danger category.