June 28, 2023
(press release)
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Closure begins Friday, June 30 based on Risk of Wildfires Due to the increasing risk of wildfires to the region, Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) will be closing its Oregon forestlands to public access, beginning Friday, June 30. “Preventing wildfires during fire season is everyone’s responsibility,” said Courtney Griesel, SPI spokesperson. “As stewards of the land, it is our responsibility to take steps to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire. Closure of our lands to public access and recreation is a necessary step to increasing public safety, supporting first responders preparing for frontline emergency response, and protecting the land and local communities." Several wildfire risk factors are considered by SPI when closing its lands, including increasing temperatures, the presence of dry vegetation, low moisture levels in fuels, and long-range weather forecasts for the region. Fire prevention efforts through active forest management of lands is SPI’s first line of defense against catastrophic wildfires. Implementing effective solutions requires working with land management partners to establish fuel breaks and execute fuel reduction strategies, as well as applying appropriate, aggressive fire suppression efforts during the wildfire season. During the closure which begins Fri., June 30, use of SPI’s roads and walk-in access to the company’s privately-owned lands for recreational purposes will be prohibited. Remaining open for recreational access will be those SPI roads that are shared with federal landowners that are designated for public use. Public roads crossing SPI lands are not affected by this closure. SPI has committed to regularly evaluate the situation and keep interested parties updated on any changes. SPI anticipates the closure will remain in effect until moisture levels and long-range weather forecasts improve, likely sometime in the Fall of 2023. To learn more about the company’s recreation access policies, please visit the website at: https://spi-ind.com/OurForests/RecreationAccess. For inquiries associated with the closure, contact the SPI Oregon office at 541-689-1011. Sierra Pacific Industries is a third-generation, family-owned forest products company based in Anderson, California. SPI owns and manages more than 2.4 million acres of timberland in California, Oregon and Washington and is one of the largest U.S. lumber manufacturers. SPI also produces millwork, windows and renewable energy. In Oregon, Sierra Pacific Industries owns 177,000 acres of forestlands, primarily in Douglas and Lane counties, and operates four sawmills, a veneer plant, and a biomass energy facility.
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