2B | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 2021 | SIUSLAW NEWS
As summer approaches, keep campfires safe
SALEM — Many of us
enjoy a campfire because
it evokes memories of past
camping trips with family
and friends. We sit around
the fire and talk, laugh and
enjoy the company.
The warmth of the mo-
ments rivals the heat from
the campfire.
Consider ways to build
a safe campfire as you start
your summer camping
preparations. Also, keep in
mind that our drier than
normal spring weather is a
concern for Oregon and the
West. Be sure to research
conditions for the area near
where you’re camping be-
fore you head out.
Fire restrictions may be
in place at the park, county
or state level. The Oregon
State Parks website will post
the latest information about
campfires in state parks.
“Regularly
reviewing
campfire safety practices,
even if you’re a seasoned
camper, is a good habit,”
said Chris Havel, Oregon
Parks and Recreation De-
partment (OPRD) associate
director. “It’s especially im-
portant if you’re camping
with children or folks that
are learning about respon-
sible outdoor recreation.
If you have a question or a
concern, talk with a park
ranger or camp host.”
OPRD offers the follow-
ing tips for a safe and en-
joyable campfire, and to
continue the tradition of
great camping memories
for everyone.
• Maintain campfire
flames at knee height, or
roughly two feet high. A
smaller flame helps prevent
ash and embers from rising
into the trees or dry vege-
tation. If you see the wind
stirring up embers, play it
safe and put the fire out.
• Only build campfires
in the existing fire ring in
your campsite. Fire rings
are placed in areas with
buffer zones and away from
vegetation.
• Always keep plenty of
water nearby so you can
use it to safely put out the
campfire. Drown the flames
with water and carefully stir
the embers to make sure ev-
erything is wet. The stirring
step is important: ash and
wood debris often main-
tain heat and embers unless
they are drowned out.
• Beach campfires should
be on open sand and away
from driftwood or vegeta-
tion. Slowly pour water on
your beach fire to put it out.
Don’t pour the water too
quickly because hot sand
can fly up and hit anyone
nearby. Also, don’t use sand
to put out a beach fire. Cov-
ering the fire with sand will
insulate the coals, keeping
them hot enough to burn
someone hours or even
days later.
• For propane fire rings,
follow the same safety pre-
cautions you would with a
log-based campfire. The use
of propane fire rings may
vary statewide, depending
on local conditions.
• Make sure everyone in
your campsite is familiar
with campfire safety, in-
cluding children.
Always keep an eye on
your campfire; many ac-
cidental fires are started
because campers left their
fire unattended for “just a
minute.”
For recreational boating season; plan, pay attention and share
SALEM — There are
dozens of boat types on
the market and many wa-
ter recreation opportuni-
ties in Oregon, from rivers
and streams to the Pacific
Ocean. Regardless of the
type of boat you’re in and
the type of activity you’re
engaged in, be sure to plan,
pay attention, and share
the water so everyone can
have a fun time.
The Oregon State Ma-
rine Board (OMB) invites
boaters to explore their
interactive Boating Ore-
gon Map, where you can
find a boat ramp near you,
plan for a weekend escape
to places less frequented,
or find a waterway in the
center of all the action.
“When you hit the water,
remember: it’s water. There
will be waves, there will
be wind chop, there will
be other boaters, and lots
of opportunities to build
your skills,” says Ashley
Massey, Public Informa-
tion Officer for the Marine
Board. “It’s important to
pick a location based on
your skills and consider
exploring a new waterbody
or have a backup location
if the primary option is too
crowded.
“There are dozens of wa-
terways perfectly suited for
OSAA
from 1B
days have passed since
the individual’s final
dose of COVID-19 vac-
cine.
Per the OHA, “proof
of vaccination status”
means documentation
provided by a tribal, fed-
eral, state or local gov-
ernment, or a health
care provider — that
includes an individual’s
name, date of birth, type
of COVID-19 vaccina-
tion given, date or dates
given, depending on
paddling and just as many
nonmotorized and “elec-
tric motor only” lakes for
folks looking for a serene,
relaxing, and peaceful ex-
cursion,” Massey says.
Massey also advises to
check the weather forecast,
water levels or tides, see if
there are any reported ob-
structions, and to have the
right gear for the activities
you’re doing. Boaters can
also find out what equip-
ment is required based on
their boat length.
“Expect waterways in
more populated areas to
be congested with many
users, so pay attention to
your surroundings, con-
tinually scanning port to
starboard and keeping a
close eye on what’s ahead,”
Massey adds. “Brush up
on the navigation rules
of the road, start out slow
looking for debris in the
water, and whatever you
do — don’t text and drive.
Taking video and pictures,
along with social media
texting can be fun, but the
operator needs to main-
tain focus and awareness
to what’s going on around
them. The captain is re-
sponsible for the safety of
everyone on board, and
the entire crew needs to
pitch in and be an alert,
working together.”
The OMB also recom-
mends boaters:
• Wear a life jacket.
Learn more about life jack-
et types, styles, and legal
requirements. Life jacket
use is required for children
under 13 when in a boat
underway, and for anyone
rafting on sections of riv-
ers with Class III whitewa-
ter.
The water temperature
for most waterways is be-
low 60 degrees this time
of year and wearing a life
jacket is the most import-
ant piece of equipment
for surviving the first few
seconds of cold-water im-
mersion.
• Not consuming mar-
ijuana, drugs or alcohol.
Instead, take along a vari-
ety of non-alcoholic bev-
erages and plenty of water.
Impairment can lead to a
BUII arrest.
Drugs and alcohol im-
pair a boater’s judgment
and coordination which
every boat operator needs.
Swift currents, changing
weather and debris require
boat operators to be fo-
cused and skilled to avoid
an accident.
• If you are feeling tired,
take a break on land and
return to the water when
you are re-energized and
alert. Wind, glare, dehy-
dration and wave motion
are environmental stress-
ors and contribute to fa-
tigue which can slow reac-
tion time.
• Never boat alone —
especially when paddling.
Always let others know
where you are going and
when you’ll return. Print
out a downloadable float
plan to leave with friends
and family.
• Be courteous to other
boaters and share the wa-
terway. Low water levels in
many areas of the state will
lead to boaters migrating
where there’s more water
to play. Expect conges-
tion at the boat ramp and
bring your patience. Once
on the water, paddlers are
urged to operate near the
shore, to help ease conflict
with motorized boats and
sailboats who need deeper
water to operate.
Paddlers are encouraged
to use the shoreline adja-
cent to the ramp to help
ease congestion.
Regardless of your boat
type, prep your gear in the
parking lot or staging area
prior to launching your
boat. This makes launch-
ing faster and everyone
around you, happier.
whether it is a one-dose
or two-dose vaccine,
and the name/location
of the health care pro-
vider or site where the
vaccine was adminis-
tered.
Documentation may
include, but is not limit-
ed to, COVID-19 vacci-
nation record card, or a
copy or digital picture of
the vaccination record
card.
Season 4 Culminating
Week Events
The OSAA Executive
Board recently met in a
work session to finalize
decisions on Season 4
Culminating
Week
events.
The board spent a sig-
nificant period of time
discussing Season 4
options for schools and
culminating events.
As in Seasons 2 and 3,
member schools contin-
ue to face challenges but
many have found suc-
cess in local/regional
competition models that
seek to maximize partic-
ipation opportunities for
all students within a
program.
The OSAA Board will
continue to leave discre-
tion for Culminating
Week events to local
school districts to allows
individual schools to
focus on participation
and the best decisions
for their school and
community.
The OSAA Board
took action to return the
sixth and final week of
Season 4 to member
schools.
Participation limita-
tions were increased by
the Board to allow for
additional
contests
throughout Season 4.
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