Tillamook State Forest Re-opens to Public Use Friday, Sept. 18

 

Some state forests to re-open Friday, Sept. 18

The Tillamook and Clatsop state forests will re-open to the public on Friday, Sept. 18, along with smaller ODF parcels in northwest Oregon. This also includes ODF-managed lands in Columbia, Lincoln, Polk, and Benton counties. The public is urged to know before you go about potential restrictions on campfires, off-road vehicle use and other fire prevention measures in the midst of an unprecedented fire season in Oregon. Public Use Restrictions Map

The Gilchrist and Sun Pass state forests along with ODF-managed lands in Klamath, Jackson, Josephine, Coos, Douglas and Lane counties remain closed due to extreme fire danger.

The Santiam State Forest remains closed until further notice.

State Forest Closure Extended Through Wednesday, Sept. 16 - Fire Danger Level EXTREME

PUBLIC USE CLOSURE FOR ODF-MANAGED STATE FORESTS EXTENDED THROUGH WED., SEPT. 16

All Oregon Department of Forestry-managed forests are closed to public use through at least Wed, Sept. 16. Fire danger remains extreme, air quality is bad to hazardous, & last week’s wind storms caused downed trees on roads & other safety problems that need to be cleared. This covers the Tillamook, Clatsop, Gilchrist, Sun Pass & Santiam state forests as well as other smaller parcels managed by ODF in Lane, Douglas, Coos, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Polk, Lincoln, & Benton counties.

ODF appreciates the public's understanding.

STATE FOREST CLOSURES EXTENDED - FIRE DANGER LEVEL EXTREME - IFPL IV

 

Pike Road Fire FINAL Update - September 12, 2020

State Forests Closed To Public Entry: Fire Level EXTREME - IFPL IV

Fire Danger Levels on the Rise - Temporary Closures Going Into Effect

Effective Thursday, September 3, 2020 the Tillamook State Forest and surrounding Oregon Department of Forestry protected lands will enter a Fire Danger Level of HIGH and an Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) of 3.

OHV trails in the Browns Camp, Lyda Camp, Diamond Mill and Trask designated areas remain open.

Forest visitors can expect to see some new gates being installed in the Tillamook State Forest along the Highway 6 and Highway 26 corridors.  These are fire protection gates to facilitate temporary closure of specific geographic areas during periods of high and extreme fire danger in an effort to reduce the likelihood of human caused fires occurring in these areas.  The areas behind these gates will remain open to foot traffic and hunting activity. The gates will re-open when the fire danger drops back down to moderate.

As we are currently experiencing a weather pattern that will raise the fire danger and IFPL levels on Thursday, September 3, 2020, these gates will be closing over the next several days as described below.  

Here is more specific information about the gate locations:

The Tillamook State Forest management team is installing gates at several forest access points along the Highway 26 and Highway 6 corridors.  These gates will only be closed during active forest operations or during periods high and extreme fire danger conditions to reduce the potential for human caused wildfires on State Forests lands.

The gates on Highway 26 will be installed at the entrances to:

• ·         North Fork of Wolf Creek Road
• ·         McGregor Road
• ·         Music Road

The Highway 26 gates at these locations will be closed starting Friday, September 4, 2020 and will remain closed until the fire danger level drops back down to moderate.

The gates on Highway 6 will be installed at the entrances to:

• ·         Storeyburn Road
• ·         Drift Creek Road
• ·         Idiot Creek Road

The Highway 6 gates at these locations will likely remain open through the Labor Day weekend but may be closed sooner if there is a significant change in the fire danger or if the area experiences fire activity.

Both of these areas remain open to entry by foot traffic only and to hunting.