State Foresters Declared Fire Season in Southwest Oregon Done

After several days of rain, state foresters are declaring an end to a busy fire season in southwestern Oregon.

The Department of Forestry said Monday the fire danger level will be reduced to its low, or “green,” level as of midnight Monday, and public and industrial restrictions will be lifted.

The major firefighting effort this summer followed a barrage of lightning strikes on July 26.

From that emerged four fire areas, including two complexes of blazes called Douglas and Big Windy.

The total areas for the two sets of fires amounted to more than 100 square miles, and it took weeks to contain them.

The department urges residents planning to burn debris this fall to check to make sure that open burning is permitted – and then to be cautious.