Bear Camp Road is open, but drivers need to be careful on the narrow road through the mountains from Galice to Agness. 

Fire season begins June 1 in Jackson and Josephine counties, meaning that outdoor burning of debris is prohibited in most areas, according to the Oregon Department of Forestry.

Fire danger is low, but vegetation is drying.

“Consistent rain and snow allowed for a fairly fire-free spring in Southern Oregon up until early May,” said Natalie Weber, spokeswoman for the Oregon Department of Forestry, Southwest District.

That’s when hotter weather combined with wind to help spread numerous accidental, human-caused fires and a few lightning-caused fires.

Lands affected by the declaration include 1.8 million acres of state, private, county, city and Bureau of Land Management property.

Under the declaration, no fireworks are allowed on or within one-eighth of a mile of ODF-protected land; exploding targets, tracer ammunition and any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base are prohibited; and campfires are allowed only in designated campgrounds, on private land with the landowner’s permission and on BLM lands with a fire ring.

Industrial Fire Precaution Level One is in effect, meaning that a fire watch is required.

For more information, contact ODF at 541-664-3328 in Medford or 541-474-3152 in Grants Pass, or online at swofire.com.

Bear Camp Road to Gold Beach plowed, open, but take care

Bear Camp Road between Galice and Agness has been plowed and is open to the public, but drive it with care, officials with the Bureau of Land Management and the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest advise.

The route was opened May 26 with help from a crew from the Umpqua National Forest. In one section, a single lane of travel was opened, with snow piled about 8 feet deep on either side.

The road is a mostly paved backcountry route that traverses the coastal mountains, connecting the Rogue Valley with Gold Beach on the Oregon Coast. Rafters who float the Wild Section of the Rogue River use the route frequently, particularly in warmer months. Shuttle companies and outfitters use the route, too, along with locals and travelers.

Motorists in motor homes, oversized vehicles or pulling trailers are advised to use Highways 199 or 101.

According to an announcement from the agencies, not all federal forest roads have been maintained or checked this spring. Motorists should prepare well, drive with their lights on and be prepared to stop for oncoming traffic.

Alcohol ban imposed again on recreation section of Illinois River

The U.S. Forest Service has again issued a temporary alcohol ban along a popular stretch of the Illinois River in Josephine County.

“The decision to implement the ban arose from the concern for public safety, and has been met with overwhelming support,” said Scott Blower, Wild Rivers District ranger for the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. “With a seasonal ban in place for the last seven years, we’ve heard that people feel they can once again take their families to the river.”

The ban is in effect through Sept. 30 for a quarter-mile on both sides of the river, and from the forest boundary on Illinois River Road near Selma to near McCaleb Ranch.

The Illinois River is a part of the nation’s Wild and Scenic River system, with 50.4 miles designated in 1984, including a 3.8-mile-long recreational section that falls under the ban.