BAKER CITY — The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest has upgraded public use restrictions on the forest to Phase B, effective 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, July 17.

With dry forest fuels and high daytime temperatures, conditions are prime for human-caused forest fires, forest officials said in a press release Tuesday, July 16.

Under the tightened restrictions, campfires are allowed only in fire pits in designated recreation sites on the forest or within the Eagle Cap Wilderness (except for the year-round campfire rules printed on the back of Eagle Cap Wilderness permits.) For a list of designated recreation sites, see the related story.

Liquefied and bottled gas stoves and heaters may be used, but charcoal fires are not allowed. Wood-burning stoves may be used if equipped with a chimney at least 5 feet in length and with a spark-arresting screen consisting of ¼-inch mesh hardware cloth. All flammable vegetation within a 3-foot radius must be cleared, including overhanging material. Separate year-around rules apply within a ¼ mile of the Wild and Scenic portions of the Snake River (fs.usda.gov/alerts/wallowa-whitman/alerts-notices). Public lands in Idaho administered by the Wallowa-Whitman follow separate Idaho fire restrictions.

Use of chainsaws other internal combustion engines (other than a motor vehicle) are not allowed. Generators will only be allowed, when fully contained in the bed of a pickup truck or in an area that has been cleared, at least 10 feet in diameter, of all flammable material.

Traveling off developed forest roads and trails is not allowed, except for the purpose of going to and from a campsite located within 300 feet of the open developed road. All motorized travel on roads closed by gates, barricades, berms, rocks, or logs is prohibited.

Smoking is not allowed, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, developed recreation site or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.

Firefighting and aviation resources are poised to respond to growth on existing large fires as well as emerging fires. With increasing smoke impacts, officials urged people to stay ready for smoke impacts by visiting the website airnow.gov.

For more information on fire restrictions, contact a Forest Service office or visit these websites: bmidc.org/restrictions.shtml, fs.usda.gov/wallowa-whitman or  bluemountainfireinfo.blogspot.com.

If you see a wildfire, call 911.

Here is a list of designated recreation sites where campfires are allowed, but only in fire pits.

Union County

• Birdtrack Springs Campground

• Boulder Park Campground

• Buck Creek Trailhead

• Frog Heaven Campground

• Moss Springs Campground and Guard Station

• North Fork Catherine Creek Campground, Trailhead and Group Camp

• Spool Cart Campground

• Spring Creek Campground

• Two Color Campground and Guard Station

• Umapine Campground

• West Eagle Meadow Campground and Horse Camp

Wallowa County

•  Arrow Forest Campground

•  Blackhorse Campground

•  Boundary Campground

•  Buckhorn Campground

•  Canyon Forest Campground

• Coyote Campground

• Dougherty Campground

• Hidden Campground

• Hurrricane Creek Campground

• Indian Crossing Campground

• Irondyke Campground

• Lick Creek Campground

• Lostine River Corridor campsites

• Ollokot Campground

• Pole Bridge Day Use

• Saddle Creek Campground

• Shady Campground

• Turkey Flats Campground

• Two Pan Campground

• Walla Walla Campground

• Williamson Campground