Fire danger goes up in Willamette.

Byline: The Register-Guard

The Willamette National Forest moved back to a "high" fire danger status and Industrial Fire Precaution Level III effective at 12:01 a.m. today after east winds dried out last week's half-inch of rain.

Fall typically is the season of greatest fire danger in local forests because leaves and needles are dry and extremely flammable, fire officials said. Lightning-caused fires are rare this time of year, so human-caused fires are the biggest concern, they said.

Campfires are allowed only in designated campgrounds and in the Mount Jefferson, Mount Washington, Three Sisters, Waldo and Diamond Peak Wilderness Areas administered by the Willamette National Forest.

For a list of campgrounds, call the forest office at 225-6300 or visit the forest's Web site at www.fs.fed.us/r6/willamette/ and click on the Sept. 25 story under "News & Events." The following are prohibited on the Willamette forest:

Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or stove fire, including a charcoal fire, anywhere in the forest except as noted above. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuel are allowed.

Smoking while traveling in timber, brush or grass except in enclosed vehicles on roads.

Possessing or using a vehicle off forest development roads (those built for automotive use and maintained clear of flammable debris).

Possessing, discharging or using any kind of fireworks or pyrotechnic device (always prohibited in national forests).

Welding or operating an acetylene or other torch with an open flame.

Operating a chain saw, generator or other internal combustion engine, except for people with permits specifically authorizing such use, or any federal, state or local official or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance while on duty.