Posts Tagged ‘wa’

Fire Weather Outlook Continues to Challenge Firefighters (Washington)

Leavenworth, WA – An early morning lightning storm passed through the Wenatchee Valley Friday, leaving a trail of small spot fires on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

Two new fires were confirmed near the Tronsen Ridge/Sheep Rock area. Both fires are an acre in size, with rappelers and smokejumpers responding to the fires located in remote, steep terrain.

Crews continue to search for smokes from today?s storm. Scattered thunderstorms are expected to continue for the next several days, as a weak cold front moves through the area. Heavy rains are expected to accompany the storms.

One of the largest fires in the Wenatchee Valley is the Devils Gulch Fire, located six miles southwest of Wenatchee and is 35 acres in size. Friday was the first day that firefighter crews were able to begin the arduous task of constructing fire line in this steep and heavily timbered area. Three helicopters dropped water on the fire Friday.

Because of public and firefighter safety concerns and threat of fire in the area, people are asked to avoid using roads and trails in the following areas:

Read more at Fire Weather Outlook Continues to Challenge Firefighters

Olympic National Forest’s Motor Vehicle Use Map Has Been Published and is Soon to be Released

Olympic National Forest
1835 Black Lake Blvd.
Olympia, WA 98512-5623

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: November 9, 2009
Public Affairs Office: (360) 956-2274 FAX (360) 956-2330

Olympia, WA – Olympic National Forest’s Motor Vehicle Use Map, which identifies routes available for motor vehicle use, has been published and will soon be available to the public. This map was created in response to the Forest Service’s 2005 Travel Management Rule which required all National Forests to designate roads and trails available for both passenger vehicle and off-highway vehicle (OHV) use. The objective of this rule was to manage off-road vehicle use on public lands, protect resources, provide for safety, and minimize conflicts among visitors.

The routes depicted in this map correspond with those identified in Olympic National Forest’s 1990 Forest Plan. The 1990 Forest Plan prohibited cross country travel of off-road vehicles on the forest, but allows for off-road motorcycle on the following trails:

Trail 830 – Gold Creek Trail, from Road 2870-230 to Road 28780
Trail 833 – Lower Big Quilcene, from Road 27-080 to Road 2750
Trail 833.3 – Lower Dungeness, from Road 2870-230 to Road 2870
Trail 836 – Mount Zion, from Road 28 to the Mount Zion Summit
Trail 858 – Lower Pete?s Creek, from Road 2204 to West Fork Humptulips River
Trail 871 – Church Creek, from Road 2361-600 to Road 2372

Hood Canal District Ranger Dean Yoshina said, “The completion of this year’s motor vehicle use map will not only clarify existing routes, but it can potentially help us identify additional routes, given the high demand of interest in this recreational activity.”

Maps will be available online at the Olympic National Forest Website, and at all Olympic National Forest offices in Olympia, Hoodsport, Quilcene, Forks, and Quinault, beginning on November 23, 2009. The maps are free of charge, and are designed to be used in conjunction with the Olympic NF Forest Visitor Use Map.

BLM Proposes Rules Relating to OHV Use on OR & WA Public Lands

September 22, 2009 ? BLM?s Oregon State Office is proposing supplementary rules for BLM-managed public lands within Oregon and Washington. These proposed rules revise existing rules and relate to several types of activities. BLM?s proposed rules relating to OHV use are as follows:

1. You must wear an industry approved safety helmet when operating an OHV on all BLM lands or lands leased by the BLM and roads within the Juniper Dunes area.
2. You must not carry a passenger when operating an OHV on BLM public lands unless the OHV is designed by the manufacturer to carry a passenger.
3. You must not operate an OHV without a safety flag while on BLM lands in the Juniper Dunes. All such vehicles must have a whip mast and a 6? x 12? red/orange safety flag. Flags may be of pennant, triangle, square, or rectangular shape. Safety flags must be attached within 10? of the tip of the whip mast with club or other flags mounted below the safety flag or on another whip. Masts must be a minimum of 6 feet in height/length or industry standard height/length.
4. You must not operate an OHV without a safety flag on Peterson Road, Juniper Road, Smith Canyon Road and Wilderness Road.
5. You must not race or drive recklessly or carelessly on Peterson Road, Juniper Road, Smith Canyon Road or Wilderness Road.

Comments on the proposed rules will be accepted until November 20, 2009. Comments may be submitted by email to orwa_prop_rule@blm.gov with “Attn: Law Enforcement” in the subject line or by mail to:

Office of Law Enforcement
BLM, Oregon State Office
P.O. Box 2965
Portland, OR 97208

Additional information found online:
Original Federal Register Notice

For further information, please contact Michael Roop at BLM?s Office of Law Enforcement and Security at 503-808-6410.