The fire danger level and corresponding restrictions will increase to "Extreme" (red) first thing on Wednesday in Jackson and Josephine counties, the Oregon Department of Forestry announced this week.
Fire danger restrictions apply to roughly 1.8 million acres of state, private, county, and federal lands within ODF's Southwest Oregon District. The Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) will remain at Level 2.
"The primary difference between current fire prevention restrictions and those beginning on Wednesday affects the public use of power-driven equipment, such as chain saws and mowers," ODF said. "The use of power-driven equipment, grinding, cutting of metal, and other spark-emitting equipment, such as wood splitters and generators, will be prohibited."