FIRE RESTRICTIONS: - Fire Season terminated 12:01 p.m. October 24, 2022.
FIRE RESTRICTIONS: - Regulated Closure Terminated for October 14, 2022
IFPL Map MH1 IFPL: - IFPL not in effect MH4 IFPL: - IFPL not in effect
ADDITIONAL INDUSTRIAL FIRE PRECAUTIONS: - Terminated for John Day and Prineville Units

Thursday, October 22, 2020

Fire Season Terminated For John Day Unit of Central Oregon District

[John Day, Ore.]  Oregon Department of Forestry will terminate Fire Season in the John Day Unit of the Central Oregon District at 12:01 a.m. Saturday October 24, 2020.  Cooling temperatures and increased humidity have reduced the fire danger and potential for rapid spread of fire due to fuel conditions.  Additional precipitation is needed before burn permits for logging slash will be issued in the Central Oregon District.    

Yard debris, burn barrels, and other open burning should follow local and county fire restrictions.  Prior to any burning landowners should plan for safe burning practices including monitoring current weather conditions and future forecasts.  Safe burning practices also includes clearing flammable debris from the burn pile or burn area, having a water source nearby, having tools such as a shovel handy while burning, not burning in windy conditions, and never leave a fire unattended.  Continue to check the fire area for residual heat in the days after burning to ensure embers do not rekindle and spread to nearby fuels.

Year-to-date in the Central Oregon District firefighters have responded to 70 lightning fires burning 11,300 acres and 69 human caused fires burning 1,659 acres. The ten-year average for this time period is 63 lightning fires for 5,823 acres and 65 human caused fires for 2,192 acres.  Eighty-five percent of all fires were less than ten acres in size. 

ODF’s Central Oregon District continues to serve landowners and the public as an essential service for Oregonians.  Please call or email to talk with our staff or schedule an appointment.  For additional information on ODF’s Central Oregon District, including contact information and unit offices, please visit www.ODFcentraloregon.com.

Thursday, October 15, 2020

Fire Season Ends for Prineville and The Dalles Units of ODF’s Central Oregon District

[PRINEVILLE, Ore.]  Fire Season for Oregon Department of Forestry’s Prineville and The Dalles units in the Central Oregon District will end at 12:01 a.m. Saturday October 17, 2020.  Industrial Fire Precautions in MH-1 and MH-4 of The Dalles Unit are also terminated.  Fuel conditions do not pose a significant risk of fire ignition and rapid spread in these areas. 

Gordon Foster, Prineville Unit Forester, reminds the public, “Although conditions have minimized the threat of fire spread, people should take caution and monitor conditions prior to conducting any open burning”. 

The John Day Unit will remain in Fire Season until additional moisture has further mitigated fire hazards.  Lands within the John Day Unit include portions of Grant, Morrow, Wheeler, Gilliam, Malhuer, and Umatilla counties.  Open burning is not allowed at this time in the John Day Unit, including yard debris.

Burn permits for logging slash and debris will not be issued in The Dalles or Prineville units until additional precipitation is received.  Yard debris, burn barrels, and other open burning should follow local and county fire restrictions.  Safe burning practices include clearing flammable debris from the burn pile or burn area, having a water source nearby, having tools such as a shovel handy while burning, not burning in windy conditions, and never leave a fire unattended.  Continue to check the fire area for residual heat in the days after burning to ensure embers do not rekindle and spread to nearby fuels.

Since Fire Season began in the Central Oregon District on June 1st firefighters have responded to 62 lightning fires burning 11,300 acres and 52 human caused fires burning 1,643 acres.

ODF’s Central Oregon District continues to serve landowners and the public as an essential service for Oregonians.  Please call or email to talk with our staff or schedule an appointment.  For additional information on ODF’s Central Oregon District, including contact information and unit offices, please visit www.ODFcentraloregon.com.

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Regulated Closure Terminated For ODF’s Central Oregon District

[PRINEVILLE, Ore.]  Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Regulated-Use Closure in the Central Oregon District will be terminated at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday October 14, 2020.  Fire managers have determined the recent cooler weather and widespread precipitation across ODF’s Central Oregon District have reduced the risk of rapid fire spread and these prevention measures are no longer necessary.  In addition to the removal of the Regulated-Use Closure for the District, the Industrial Fire Precaution Level for MH-1 (East of Hwy 35) will be reduced to Level 1.  Fire season remains in effect.

Open burning and debris burning without a permit is prohibited on ODF protected lands during fire season.  Additional county or local fire department restrictions may also be in effect.  Use of tracer ammunition or exploding targets during fire season is not allowed.

While campfires and warming fires are allowed, the public is reminded to never leave a fire unattended, clear the area around the fire of flammable material prior to lighting and keep the fire small.  Having a shovel and water nearby are also safe practices to limit risk of the fire escaping.  Be sure your campfire is DEAD OUT! by drowning with water and stirring until there is no heat remaining. 

Use caution in all outdoor activities and follow ODF and local restrictions.  Current restrictions can be found at www.ODFcentraloregon.com.  Failure to follow current restrictions may result in a citation or liability for fire suppression work.  Wildfires cause damage to Oregon’s natural resources, including affecting water, soil and air quality and impact local communities.  These restrictions affect Central Oregon District protected lands in Crook, Deschutes, Gilliam, Grant, Hood River, Jefferson, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Umatilla, Wasco, and Wheeler counties.

ODF’s Central Oregon District continues to serve landowners and the public as an essential service for Oregonians.  Please call or email to talk with our staff or schedule an appointment.  For additional information on ODF’s Central Oregon District, including contact information and unit offices, please visit www.ODFcentraloregon.com.

Thursday, October 8, 2020

Fire Season Remains on ODF Protected Lands In Central Oregon District

[PRINEVILLE, Ore.]  Fire Season in Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District remains in effect across private ownership, as well as state and municipal lands.  Cooler recent temperatures may give a false sense that fire danger is no longer present.  However, vegetation conditions are well above average across the District, and in many places are near where they were in August.  This assessment is based on the ability of fuels to burn, fuel moisture content, the heat potential of the fire front, and the rate of spread.   Fire managers are regularly reviewing the conditions and evaluating the need for restrictions.

“Cooler days and increased humidity recovery at night are moving us toward reducing some of our prevention measures, but what we really need to see is significant widespread precipitation across the District before we can make that decision,” says Rob Pentzer, Assistant District Forester for the Central Oregon District.

Open burning without a permit is prohibited on ODF protected lands as part of the Fire Season Declaration.  Additional county or local fire department restrictions may also be in effect.  Upcoming rain in the forecast will not eliminate the risk associated with debris burning with the current fuel conditions and wind associated with the storm may increase the risk of fire escaping.

Regulated-Use Closure restrictions are in place to reduce human caused fires on the landscape.  Campfires and warming fires, including charcoal fires are prohibited by the Regulated-Use Closure.  Additionally, a shovel and fire extinguisher (or a gallon of water) is required while traveling on forest roads. Chainsaw use and mowing of dried grass is prohibited between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Current restrictions can be found at www.ODFcentraloregon.com.  Failure to follow current restrictions may result in a citation or liability for fire suppression work.  Wildfires cause damage to Oregon’s natural resources, including affecting water, soil and air quality and impact local communities.  These restrictions affect Central Oregon District protected lands in Crook, Deschutes, Gilliam, Grant, Hood River, Jefferson, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Umatilla, Wasco, and Wheeler counties.

ODF’s Central Oregon District continues to serve landowners and the public as an essential service for Oregonians.  Please call or email to talk with our staff or schedule an appointment.  For additional information on ODF’s Central Oregon District, including contact information and unit offices, please visit www.ODFcentraloregon.com.