Coos Forest Protective Association prepares for busy fire season

COOS BAY, Ore. — As of Friday, June 14, it's fire season here, and the Coos Forest Protective Association (CFPA) says it's preparing for a busy fire season this year.

This means that at this time, burning debris piles and using burn barrels to burn debris will no longer be allowed in Coos, Curry and Western Douglas counties.

Affected lands include public, private, county, and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) forests.

Last year's fire season began June 9 and ended October 9, lasting 123 days and blackening 1,038 acres.

Fire season typically intensifies in August, September and October, but the CFPA assembles its crews.

“Our crews are being hired now. They are trained; we actually have a course going on right now to teach people how to maneuver around helicopters,” says FPAC’s Brett Weidmiller.

The CFPA currently has 105 employees, some of whom are trained in various courses such as the MERP program, which is an emergency medical response plan adapted to provide medical care to firefighters on scene.

CFPA has offices in Reedsport, Coos Bay, Bridge, Fourmile and Gold Beach. Within these offices are different types of engines designed to fight wildfires.

For more information on the Coos Forest Protective Association's regulations regarding fire season, visit their website here.