Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests

Home

About Us

Current Conditions

Employment

Frequently Asked Question's

Fire & Aviation

Closures & Restrictions

Fire Precaution Levels

NCSB-North Cascades Smokejumper Base

Training

CWICC-Central Wa Interagency Communication Center

Recreational Activities

Volunteering

	Evaluate Our Service
	Employee Search

	Headquarters 215 Melody Lane Wenatchee, WA 98801 509.664.9200 Voice 509.664.9280 Fax 509.664.9201 TTY Okanogan Valley Office 1240 South Second Avenue Okanogan, WA 98841 509.826.3275 Voice 509.826.3789 Fax 509.826.3765 TTY
	Chelan District Ranger 428 W. Woodin Avenue Chelan, WA 98816-9724 509. 682.4900 Voice/TTY 509.682.9004 Fax
	Cle Elum Ranger District 803 W. 2nd Street Cle Elum, WA 98922 509.852.1100 Voice 509.674.3800 Fax
	Entiat Ranger District 2108 Entiat Way P.O. Box 476 Entiat, WA 98822 509.784.1511 Voice/TTY 509.784.1150 Fax
	Methow Valley Ranger District 24 West Chewuch Road Winthrop, WA 98862 509.996.4003 Voice 509.996.2208 Fax
	Naches Ranger District 10237 Highway 12 Naches, WA 98937 509.653.1401 Voice/TTY 509.653.2638 Fax
	North Cascade Smokejumper Base 23 Intercity Airport Road Winthrop, WA 98862 509.997.9750 Voice 509.997.2077 Fax
	Tonasket Ranger District 1 West Winesap Tonasket, WA 98855 (509) 486-2186 Voice 509.486.1922 Fax 509.486.5144 TTY
	Wenatchee River Ranger District 600 Sherbourne Leavenworth, WA 98826 509. 548-2550 or 548.2551 Voice 509.548.5817 Fax
	Forestry Sciences Laboratory 1133 N. Western Wenatchee, WA 98801 509.662-4315 Voice 509.664.2742 Fax

Industrial Fire Precaution Levels (IFPL)

Cutting and removing firewood from the national forest is controlled by the Industrial Fire Precaution Levels, which are determined on a daily basis during the forest fire season (generally mid-June to mid-October) for the Okanogan Area. There are four fire precaution zones covering the Okanogan. These zones are based on mostly elevation, average rainfall and vegetation types.

A good exhaust system on the saw with a screen type spark arrestor installed with a maximum screen opening of .023 inch.
A long handled, round point shove with an 8 inch (size"0")
an 8 ounce capacity (by weight) liquid pressurized chemical fire extinguisher or a 1 pound dry chemical fire extinguisher.

Level I :

Have an approved spark arrestor on your saw, carry a shovel and fire extinguisher. Stay in the cutting area and watch for fire starts for at least one hour after the power saw is shut down.Fire precaution requirements are in effect. A one hour fire watch/security is required at this and all higher levels unless otherwise waiver.

Level II (Partial Hoot owl):

Have an approved spark arrestor on your saw, carry a shovel and fire extinguisher. Stay in the cutting area and watch for fire starts for at least one hour after the power saw is shut down.
Shutdown power saws at 1 p.m. Power saws may NOT be used from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. local time.

Level III :

All woodcutting with powersaws is prohibited.

Level IV (General Shutdown):

All operations are prohibited. The fire danger is very high.

The easiest way to find out the precaution class level and restrictions for the day is to check with the local Forest Service office. They will need to know what zone you are going to be cut in since the levels vary for each zone. The zones are identified on the maps. Firewood Map with zone

USDA Forest Service - Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests
Last Modified: Thursday, 14 August 2008 at 12:13:31 EDT