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People using
equipment in an un-safe manner is the second highest cause of wildfires on
state-protected lands in Oregon.
Equipment use is
a very large category that includes motorists who pull their burning vehicles
to the side of the road and set the dry grass on fire; sparks from exhaust
systems and heat from manifolds on vehicles being driven or parked on dry
grass; people using gas-powered lawn equipment, hitting a rock, causing a
spark, and setting the dry grass on fire; or power lines that have sparked
during a wind storm, causing a tree to ignite. (Call your power company to cut the branches away and reduce the risk.)
During Fire Season 200 9,
189 equipment
fires resulted in
13,190 burned
acres and
$7.02 million
in suppression costs,
Wildfire
statistics show that prior to 2009, the
10-year average of human-caused wildfires was
204 per year
2, 777
acres, and the
$4. 06
million in suppression costs.
After 2009, the averages became
203 wildfires
3,863
acres, and
$4. 38
million in suppression costs.
The fewer acres certainly reflects back to the
quick responses by ODF suppression crews.
Here are a few
tips for the safe use of equipment:
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Be aware of the fire restrictions
in effect. (Click here for more
information on Regulated Use ) |
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Properly maintain your vehicles’
cooling systems. |
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Stay on maintained roads when
riding off-road vehicles and ensure exhaust systems meet state and federal
regulations. |
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Make sure that all gas-powered
equipment are equipped with a spark arrester. Spark arresters often rust out,
so to be safe, take it to a repair shop
for assistance.
(A spark arrester is a piece of micro-screen that sits between the body of
the machine and the manifold. It reduces the risk of sparks being emitted.) |
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Early morning, when there’s still
a little dew left on the grass, is the best time of day to |
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use gas-powered equipment. |
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Remove any rocks that might be hit
with the mower blade. |
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Wait until the equipment has
cooled before adding fuel. |
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Keep a fire extinguisher or bucket
of water close by, just in case.
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Burning Debris
Safe Debris Burning Radio Spots
Campfire Safety
Smoking Fires
Children Playing with Fire
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