Welcome to the Blue Mountain Interagency Fire Center

Located in La Grande Oregon the Blue Mountain Interagency Fire Center is the home for the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center, the La Grande Air Tanker Base and the La Grande Fire Cache.

The Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center (BMIDC) is the interagency focal point for coordinating the mobilization of resources for wildland fire, wildland fire use, prescribed fire and other all-risk incidents throughout Northeast Oregon and Southeast Washington.

The Dispatch Center also provides Intelligence and Predictive Services related-products to support wildland fire managers and firefighters throughout BMIDC's zone of influence.

BMIDC Back Country Travel Itinerary

BMIDC Back Country Travel Itinerary

News

Public Use Restrictions eased on the Umatilla National Forest

Monday, September 16^th, 2024, 5:31:35 PM PDT
Pendleton, Ore - Effective Sept. 17, Umatilla National Forest officials are reducing the Public Use Restrictions (PURs) to Phase A, the Industrial Fire Precaution Level to IFPL level 1 and the National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) Adjective to MODERATE for both the Umatilla North and South Zones of the Forest. Thanks to the rise in humidity, fire risk has lowered but not completely diminished.

PURs are temporary and set, as conditions warrant. PURs may differ from Forest to Forest. Restrictions under Phase A include:

• Chainsaws may be operated only between the hours of 8 p.m. and 1 p.m. local time. A one-hour fire watch is required after saw operations cease. Saw operators are required to have an axe (minimum 2 lb. head, 26” length), shovel (8” wide, 26” length), and fire extinguisher (minimum ABC 8 oz.) in their possession. **Chainsaw operation associated with commercial and personal use firewood permits are regulated under the conditions of the permit and are not impacted by this public use restriction.

• Chainsaws may be operated only between the hours of 8 p.m. and 1 p.m. local time. A one-hour fire watch is required after saw operations cease. Saw operators are required to have an axe (minimum 2 lb. head, 26” length), shovel (8” wide, 26” length), and fire extinguisher (minimum ABC 8 oz.) in their possession. **Chainsaw operation associated with commercial and personal use firewood permits are regulated under the conditions of the permit and are not impacted by this public use restriction.

• Smoking is allowed only in enclosed vehicles, buildings or cleared areas.

• Traveling Off Developed Forest Roads and Trails is not allowed, except for the purpose of going to and from a dispersed campsite located within 300 feet of the open developed road. All motorized travel on roads closed by gates, barricades, berms, rocks, or logs is prohibited.

The public is also encouraged to practice safe campfire principles when recreating in dispersed and developed campsites. Forest officials recommend the following campfire safety precautions:

• Campfires should be in fire pits surrounded by dirt, rock, or commercial rings and in areas not conducive to rapid fire spread. All flammable material shall be cleared within a 3-foot radius from the edge of the pit and free of overhanging material. Use existing pits wherever possible. (Note: within the Grande Ronde Scenic Waterway, campfires must be contained in a fireproof container (i.e., "fire pan") with sides of a height sufficient to contain all ash and debris, and all ashes and debris must be removed from the river corridor. Do not use or construct fire pits or rock fire rings within the Scenic Waterway.)

• Portable cooking stoves or portable fire pits that use liquefied or bottled gas as fuel should have all combustible material removed within a 5-foot radius of the perimeter of the stove. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

• Campfires must be always attended, and completely extinguished prior to leaving.

• Persons with campfires should carry a tool that can serve as a shovel and one gallon of water in their possession. The intent of this recommendation is to ensure individuals with a campfire to have the tools necessary to completely extinguish their campfire.

The public’s awareness of the fire danger and cooperation is essential to a safe fire season. Recreationists, firewood cutters, hunters, and other forest users can all help by closely adhering to restrictions, operating safely and cautiously, and keeping up to date on the latest orders and regulations.

Regulated closures may be in effect on State and private lands protected by Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) in northeast and central Oregon. Please check with your local Oregon Department of Forestry office for PURs on lands protected by ODF. For more complete information, contact a local Oregon Department of Forestry office or visit one of the interagency dispatch centers’ webpages:

Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch webpage: www.bmidc.org

John Day Interagency Dispatch webpage: http://bicc-jdidc.org/index.shtml

Similar restrictions may also be in effect on State and private lands protected by the Washington Department of Natural Resources (WA-DNR). More information can be found on the WA-DNR website at: http://www.dnr.wa.gov/.

For more information about the Umatilla National Forest’s Public Use Restrictions, please contact the Umatilla National Forest Information Hotline at 1-877-958-9663 or visit our website at www.fs.usda.gov/umatilla/.

For full release click here, Public Use Restrictions eased on the Umatilla National Forest.

For Umatilla National Forest Phase A Poster click here, UMF Phase A Poster

Northeast Oregon Department of Forestry Fire Season is still in effect, moving from high to moderate fire danger

Monday, September 16^th, 2024, 5:34:32 PM PDT
BMIDC - As of 12:01 a.m., September 17, 2024, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) will drop down to moderate fire danger, due to moderating weather and precipitation. Fire Season remains in effect for private, state, county, municipal, and tribal lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry. Burn permits are required for burning debris and barrels. Ensuring campfires are always attended is a good step towards fire safety, as is making sure the fire is dead out before leaving. The Northeast Oregon District includes lands in the following counties: Union, Baker, Umatilla, Wallowa, and small portions of Grant, Morrow, and Malheur counties.

Here is a reminder of the restrictions that will be in place for moderate fire danger

• A permit is required for all open debris burning and use of burn barrels, depending on the conditions.
• Contact your local ODF office as listed below to inquire about a permit.
• Campfires for recreational and/or cooking purposes are allowed.
• Possession of the following firefighting equipment is required: a shovel or other firefighting tool, a minimum of 1 gallon of water, or 2 ½ 2-pound or larger fire extinguisher, and a fire watch at least one hour after extinguishing.
• PROHIBITED:
• Use of exploding targets.
• Use of tracer ammuniton or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base.
• Use of sky lanterns throughout the year in Oregon.

http://bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com/ is your spot for current fire information in the Blue Mountains.

For further information, call your local ODF offices:

La Grande Unit (541)963-3168
Baker City Sub-Unit (541)523-5831
Wallowa Unit (541)886-2881
Pendleton Unit (541)276-3491

For full release click here, Northeast Oregon Department of Forestry Fire Season is still in effect, moving from high to moderate fire danger

For Moderate Fire Definition click here, NEO ODF To Moderate Fire Danger



Wallowa-Whitman National Forest moves to Phase A Public Use Restriction

Monday, September 16^th, 2024, 12:45:46 PM PDT
BMIDC - Due to changing conditions, the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest will drop to Phase A public use restrictions 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, September 14.

We ask the public to continue to help us protect our forest from preventable wildfire. A list of designated recreation sites is available on the forest website and in the following links.

For Phase A PUR Poster, click here.



Specific fire locations and other information can be found on the Incident Information Page.
Industrial Fire Precautions and Fire Danger Ratings are on the Current Conditions Page.
Public Use Restrictions (wood cutting, campfires, etc.) are on the Fire Restrictions Page.


Fire Restriction Information for Oregon Department of Forestry

Other Fire News

Pacific Northwest Large Fire Map

Misson

"Our Mission is your Safety"

Our mission at BMIDC is to provide a service for our users through committed leadership, personal dedication and passion for the safety of all those we serve It is our commitment to provide efficient and effective response while insuring the safety of the public, our natural resource employees, and our wildland firefighters. We strive to provide, reliable, courteous, responsive and professional communications services.



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