OAR 629-043-0026: Operation Area Fire Prevention

(1) Pursuant to ORS 477.625(1)(a), during a fire season, operators must comply with the following reasonable precautions that, in the judgment of the forester, are necessary to prevent the spread of fire on or from an operation area: (a) When conducting a cable logging operation during fire season: (A) Clear the ground of all flammable material (down to mineral soil) for not less than ten feet (radius) slope distance, from the point directly below any block. (B) Do not permit moving lines to rub on rock or woody material in such a way to cause sparks or sufficient heat that may cause ignition of fire. (b) Keep all power driven machinery free of excess flammable material which may create a risk of fire. (c) When power driven machinery is left unattended, operators must disconnect main batteries from powered components (other than what may be necessary to retain computer memory) through a shut-off switch or other means or, if battery power is not disconnected, unattended power driven machinery must be left on ground cleared of flammable material. (2) When conducting a operation during fire season which uses mobile equipment east of the summit of the Cascade Mountains and when directed by the forester in written order, the operator must comply with limitations on when mobile equipment may be used. The forester must base such limitations on the fire danger in the operation area, on the risk of fire beginning in the operation area, or due to a combination of any such conditions. (3) When using fire to dispose of slashing at any time of year, the operator must develop a plan for prior approval which sets forth the personnel, equipment and procedures necessary to safely conduct the burning. The plan must be developed in such a manner as to give due consideration to prevention of fire escape and protection of life, forest resources, property and air quality. If a prescribed fire is planned to burn across land ownership boundaries, the operator must: (a) Obtain a single permit listing all landowners on whose lands the fire is planned to burn; (b) Demonstrate to the Department that the operator has obtained consent to conduct the fire from all persons on whose lands the fire is planned to burn, and (c) Conduct the burn in compliance with the permit and the conditions of the permit. (4) The forester may, in written order, reduce or waive any requirement of this rule if, in the judgment of the forester, conditions so warrant or to take advantage of alternate methods or equipment proposed by the operator which provide, in the judgment of the forester, equal or better prevention or suppression of fire.