Hancock Forest Management (HFM) announced a restriction of activities on its property due to extreme fire danger.

In a press release dated Aug. 11, HFM said that all property under its management would be closed until further notice to any motorized vehicle use, camping, any type of open fire, firewood cutting or smoking.

Non-motorized activities such as hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding or other sightseeing activities are still welcome — provided the fire restrictions are observed.

County roads and Forest Service or BLM roads that pass through the property are still open to public use.

U.S. Forest Service officials had already announced restrictions on the Malheur, Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests. As of Aug. 6, campfires are only allowed in designated campgrounds and recreation sites. Liquefied or bottled gas stoves and heaters are allowed for cooking and heating.

Operating an internal combustion engine, such as a chainsaw, is prohibited. Firewood cutting is not allowed. This restriction applies to all internal combustion engines except motor vehicles.

Generators will only be allowed in the center of an area at least 10 feet in diameter that is cleared of all flammable material, or; when fully contained within a pickup truck bed that is devoid of all flammable material, or; when factory installed in a recreational vehicle and the generator exhaust discharge is located in the center of an area at least 10 feet in diameter that is cleared of all flammable material.

Smoking is only allowed within enclosed vehicles, buildings, and developed recreation sites or when stopped in an area cleared of all flammable material.

Travel restrictions prohibit motor vehicles traveling off of designated forest roads and trails, except for the purposes of going to or from campsites located within 300 feet of an open road. Motorized travel on segments of road where access is blocked by gate, barricade, log, boulder or earthen berm is also prohibited. Vehicles must still abide by all laws and regulations pertaining to the area of travel.

For additional information, contact the HFM Office in La Grande at 541-962-2080 or 541-962-2045, or the USFS at La Grande, 541-962-8679; or Joseph, 541-426-5552.