Red Cross Urges Everyone to Download Wildfire Emergency App

The wildfire season in Oregon is on and Oregon, Washington and California have issued red flag warnings. Now, is the time to prepare your home and family for disasters of all kinds. 

Everything You Need to Know in New All-in-One Red Cross Emergency App |  NOHredcross

Easily Find Red Cross Shelters During Disaster with Free Emergency App

PREPARE YOUR FAMILY NOW With the increasing risk of climate disasters, like wildfires, it’s more important than ever to follow the three simple steps below to help keep your family safe. Download the free Red Cross Emergency app for more safety information, including real-time weather alerts and disaster shelter locations, by searching “American Red Cross” in your app store or visiting redcross.org/apps.

  • Build an emergency kit with bottled water, non-perishable food, a flashlight and battery-powered radio. Also include medications, copies of important papers, cell phone chargers and emergency contact information.
  • Make an evacuation plan with what to do in case you are separated from your family during an emergency and if you have to evacuate. Make sure to coordinate with your child’s school, your work and your community’s emergency plans — and don’t forget your pets.
  • Know how to stay informed  by finding out how local officials will contact you during a disaster and how you will get important information, such as evacuation orders. 

RED CROSS NEEDS VOLUNTEERS FOR WILDFIRE DISASTER RESPONSE When disaster forces people from their homes, the Red Cross is there to help provide safe shelter, food, and comfort.

“Volunteers are at the heart of our mission, representing 90% of our workforce and responding on a near-constant basis to disasters across the country,” said Rebecca Marshall, Disaster Services Executive, Red Cross Cascades Region. “As we continue to see more climate-driven disasters, we need more volunteers to grow our capacity to respond and help ensure families never face these emergencies alone.”

Visit redcross.org/volunteertoday to help provide relief and hope to people affected by disasters.Our most-needed positions include:

  • Shelter support: Help at a shelter during a large disaster by welcoming and registering residents, serving meals, setting up cots, distributing blankets and personal hygiene kits, and providing information and other assistance to people in need. 
  • Health services: Use your professional skills as a licensed health care provider to deliver hands-on support, including care and education to people staying at a shelter during a large disaster. Qualified licenses include RN, LPN, LVN, EMT, Paramedic, MD, DO, PA, NP and APRN. 
  • Disaster Action Team: Join your local Disaster Action Team to help families affected by home fires and other disasters by providing support, such as food, lodging, comfort and recovery assistance.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross. — American Red Cross – Cascades Region 

May be an image of text that says 'MODERATE LOW HIGH EXTREME IFPL II FIRE DANGER TODAY'

𝙃𝙄𝙂𝙃 𝙁𝙄𝙍𝙀 𝘿𝘼𝙉𝙂𝙀𝙍:

As of 12:01 a.m. this morning 7/18, the fire danger level on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District has increased to “high” (yellow) and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) is now Level 2 (two).

The primary difference between current fire prevention restrictions and those beginning on Monday affects the public use of power-driven equipment, such as chain saws, mowers, weed eaters, and more. The use of power-driven equipment, grinding, cutting of metal, and other spark-emitting equipment, such as wood splitters and generators, will be prohibited between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. This does not apply to mowing green lawns.

Other fire prevention regulations which will remain in effect, include:

• No debris burning, including piles and debris burned in burn barrels

• No fireworks on or within 1/8th of a mile of forestlands

• Exploding targets and tracer ammunition, or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base, are prohibited

• Campfires are allowed only in designated campgrounds. Portable stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels may be used in other locations

• Motorized vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain, are allowed only on improved roads; one shovel and one gallon of water, or one 2.5 pound or larger fire extinguisher, is required while traveling

• Smoking while traveling will only be allowed in enclosed vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water and other specifically designated locations

• Chain saws may not be used between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. during high fire danger. During hours outside of this time frame, chain saws may be used but require that the operator have one shovel and one 8-oz or larger fire extinguisher at the work site. A fire watch is also required for one hour after each chainsaw use

• Cutting, grinding, and welding of metal is not allowed between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. during high fire danger. These activities will be allowed during hours outside of this time frame only if the work site is cleared of potentially flammable vegetation and other materials, and a water supply is at the job site

• The mowing of dead or dried grass with power-driven equipment is not allowed between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. during high fire danger. This restriction does not include mowing of green lawns, or equipment used for the commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops

• Any other spark-emitting internal combustion engine-use not specifically mentioned is not allowed between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. during high fire danger. Use of any spark-emitting internal combustion engine is allowed outside of this time frame only if the work site is cleared of potentially flammable vegetation and other materials, and a water supply is at the job site

• Any electric fence controllers must be approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories Inc., or be certified by the Department of Consumer and Business Services, and be installed and used in compliance with the fence controller’s instructions for fire safe operation

Under IFPL II (Two) – limited shutdown, which is entirely separate from all public fire restrictions, the following may operate after 8 p.m. and up until 1 p.m. daily:

• Power saws, except at loading sites

• Feller-bunchers with rotary head saws

• Cable yarding

• Blasting

• Welding, cutting, or grinding of metal

For more information about the Oregon Department of Forestry’s fire season public restrictions, please call or visit the Southwest Oregon District unit office nearest to you:

• Medford Unit, 5286 Table Rock Rd., Central Point. (541) 664-3328

• Grants Pass Unit, 5375 Monument Dr., Grants Pass. (541) 474-3152

Fire season information is also available on our website, https://swofire.com/public-fire-restrictions/

Must Read

Rogue Valley News, Wednesday 3/2 – Medford Fred Meyer Evacuated After Vendor Truck Catches On Fire, Medford Police Investigate Two Unrelated Stabbings

Renee Shaw

Rogue Valley News, Friday 1/22 – Small Airplane Crashs Near Eagle Point Both Occupants Injured, Weekly COVID-19 Cases Decline- Deaths Surge

Renee Shaw

Rogue Valley News, Wednesday 7/7 – Wildfire Updates, Wildlife Images Has Scholarships Available for Summer Camp

Renee Shaw