ODF PROHIBITS DEBRIS BURNING THROUGHOUT WALLOWA COUNTY DURING REGULATED CLOSURE

All debris burning, including use of burn barrels, is banned throughout Wallowa County effective today, July 31, the start of a "regulated closure" declared by the Oregon Department of Forestry.

The regulated closure is intended to reduce the chance of a wildland fire, according to Matt Howard, ODF's assistant Wallowa Unit forester.

Other regulations now in effect include:


Cutting, grinding and welding of metal is prohibited. 
For landowners and/or their employee(s) thereof, conducting activities associated with their livelihood, cutting, grinding and welding is prohibited between the hours of 1 and 8 p.m.

Use of fireworks is prohibited.

Smoking in wildland areas is permitted only in enclosed vehicles on roads or inside buildings.

Camping, cooking or warming fires are prohibited, except in designated areas. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are permitted at all locations.

Off-road driving and motorized vehicles on unimproved roads is prohibited.

Possession of a shovel at least 26 inches long and a 2 lb fire extinguisher or filled gallon water container is required while traveling in a mortorized vehicle, except on state and county roads.

Chainsaw use is prohibited between the hours of 1 and 8 p.m. 

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JOSEPH FIREFIGHTERS DOUSE RURAL GRASS FIRE BEFORE IT SPREADS OUT OF CONTROL

A quick response by Joseph Fire and Rescue volunteers extinguished a small grass fire on Klages Road in rural Joseph before it could spread beyond the less-than-an-acre it blackened Monday morning, July 30.

Among those on the scene was Assistant Chief Matt Walker, a Wallowa Lake resident who responded from Enterprise, where he was at work.

The blaze broke out shortly after 7 a.m. when a malfunctioning power line dropped sparks onto the dry grass. The property owner noticed the fire and called 9-1-1 when he went to investigate why his irrigation pumps had stopped.

Assisting were the Oregon Department of Forestry, responsible for wildland fires in nearly all of Wallowa County, and Pacific Power.

Grass fires like this one also can be started by lightning or carelessness, such as burning trash without a permit or tossing a lighted cigarette from a passing car.

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JOSEPH FIREFIGHTERS RESCUE BIKERS WHO WENT OVER THE SIDE ON ROAD 39

Joseph Fire and Rescue firefighters rescued two motorcycle riders Saturday, July 7, after they went over an embankment when they miscalculated a tight curve known as Red Rock on Forest Road 39 through the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway.

Both riders, in their 50s and from Caldwell, Idaho, fell 100 to 150 feet. Their Honda Trike continued another 150-200 feet and was destroyed, Fire Chief Tom Clevenger reported.

Firefighters and Wallowa County sheriff's search-and-rescue personnel retrieved the victims with a Stokes basket system involving ropes and pulleys.

The pair was part of a group of about 30 cyclists riding the winding, scenic road, also known as the Wallowa Mountain Loop Road.

Among those responding was Assistant Chief Matt Walker, who lives at Wallowa Lake. During the incident, Joseph Firefighters and lake residents Doug Buska and Dirk Wiggins were on standby to roll Joseph Engine 5 from the lake fire station in case of another emergency in or near Joseph.

Also responding were Wallowa County sheriff's deputies, Wallowa Memorial Hospital ambulance crews and LifeFlight air ambulance pilots and medical personnel. Both victims were airlifted to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Lewiston, Idaho, where they were reported in serious to fair condition. Firefighters were dispatched at 12:07 p.m. and cleared the scene at 4:30.

Clevenger said this was the second recent motorcycle accident on the same curve. Joseph firefighters had rescued two cyclists three years ago when they fell 75 feet down the embankment.

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