Recreation Closures Around OR
May 24, 2021
After last September’s fire season, this summer’s wilderness recreation opportunities will look a bit different. Many of the recreation areas that will remain closed lie along rivers, as the wildfires hit hardest along those windier corridors.
There are several interactive maps which show the locations of fire closures, such as this Oregon recreation site status map or this US Forest Service emergency closure map. It is worth noting, the oregon.gov map has been known to fail to display recreation site names, so its guidance can be somewhat unclear.
Whether it appears on the map or not, it’s worth checking if your destination is open before leaving home. The fine for failing to heed closures can often start at $300. You can be sure of a site’s status by calling the area’s Ranger Station.
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The Detroit area is taking another small step toward normalcy this month with the reopening of six campgrounds around the popular reservoir east of Salem that burned in last September s Labor Day fires.
The largest campground in the area, Detroit Lake State Park, reopened last month. The Forest Service has added to the overnight options by gradually reopening its collection of smaller sites around the lake and on the upper North Santiam River including:
Santiam Flats Campground, on the southeast side of Detroit Lake, open now
Cove Creek Campground, on the south side of Detroit Lake, open now
Marion County has extended its burn ban through Friday, Marion County Fire District 1 chief Kyle McMann said Tuesday.
The ban, which has been in place for a week, covers all outdoor burning such as recreational fires.
Salem’s burn ban also runs through Friday. Polk County’s burn ban runs through Sunday.
Forecasted highs are in the 70s through Friday with slight winds, though rain is predicted for Saturday and into next week.
National Weather Service officials also issued a red flag warning across the majority of northwest Oregon last Friday due to the potential for rapidly spreading fire amid hot, dry and windy conditions.
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