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, September 30, 2021

 Regulated-Use Closure Terminated for ODF’s Central Oregon District

[Prineville, Ore.]  Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District will terminate Regulated-Use Closure at 12:01 a.m. on October 1, 2021.  Fire Season remains in effect.  Burning of slash piles or other debris from forest operations is not permitted at this time.  Recent precipitation, cooler temperatures, and increased humidity has significantly reduced fire behavior and ignition potential from sparks and other heat sources, however the public is reminded to be attentive to activities which could start a wildfire.  Weather can change quickly in the fall and winds can often be erratic.

Burn barrels and burning of small piles of yard debris may be allowed by permit.  Contact your local fire department or Oregon Department of Forestry office to determine if burning is allowed or to request a permit.

Campfires, warming fires and cooking fires may be allowed with the termination of Regulated-Use Closure.  These fires should be kept small and any surrounding fuel should be cleared away to reduce potential spread.  A fire tool, such as a shovel, and water or a fire extinguisher should be available to help control the fire if needed.  Fires should not be left unattended, should be DEAD OUT! and cool to the touch when you leave.  Check with your local fire district for burning regulations in your area, including restrictions on campfires and recreational fires.

Activities such as mowing of dry grass, non-industrial chainsaw use, and cutting and grinding of metal will no longer have restrictions such as timing of activities or firewatch requirements. Fire Season restrictions banning the use of exploding targets and tracer ammunition are still in effect.  MH-1 and MH-4, ODF protected lands within Hood River and Wasco counties, are in an Industrial Fire Precaution Level 1.

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. 

For additional information on ODF’s Central Oregon District, including Fire Season requirements, contact information and unit offices, please visit www.ODFcentraloregon.com.

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

 Dates Set for Lifting Public Restrictions and Terminating Burn Bans in Hood River and Wasco Counties

The Dalles, Ore. While fire season remains in effect, Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District will terminate Regulated-Use Closure at 12:01 a.m. on October 1, 2021, which includes lands in Hood River and Wasco counties.  Campfires, warming fires and cooking fires will be allowed with the termination of Regulated-Use Closure.  These fires should be kept small and any surrounding fuel should be cleared away to reduce potential spread.  A fire tool, such as a shovel, and water or a fire extinguisher should be available to help control the fire if needed.  Fires should not be left unattended, should be DEAD OUT! and cool to the touch when you leave.  Activities such as mowing of dry grass, non-industrial chainsaw use, and cutting and grinding of metal will no longer have restrictions such as timing of activities or firewatch requirements.

In addition, through coordination with the Fire Defense Board Chiefs in Hood River and Wasco counties, fire managers have established specific dates to lift the burn ban in each county.  The burn ban for Hood River County will be lifted effective October 1st, with burn barrels and small debris piles allowed by permit from daylight to 11:00 a.m.  The burn ban for Wasco County, prohibiting use of burn barrels and burning of yard debris, will be lifted effective October 16, 2021.  Contact your local fire department or Oregon Department of Forestry office to determine if burning is allowed or to request a permit.  Burning of larger slash piles or other debris from forest operations is not permitted at this time. 

Fire Season restrictions banning the use of exploding targets and tracer ammunition are still in effect.  The Industrial Fire Precaution Level remains at level 1 in MH-1 and MH-4 for forest operations on ODF protected lands within Hood River and Wasco counties.

Recent precipitation, cooler temperatures, and increased humidity has significantly reduced fire behavior and ignition potential from sparks and other heat sources, however the public is reminded to be attentive to activities which could start a wildfire.  Weather can change quickly in the fall and winds can often be erratic.  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. 

For additional information on ODF’s Central Oregon District, including Fire Season requirements, contact information and unit offices, please visit www.ODFcentraloregon.com.

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

 Restrictions Eased on ODF Protected Lands in Central Oregon District

[Prineville, Ore.]  Regulated-Use Closure restrictions within Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District will ease beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, September 22, 2021.  There will be no change to the activities restricted, including all prohibiting open fires (campfires, warming fires, and cooking fires).  The primary change to the Closure is restriction of activities such as mowing of dried grass and chainsaw use between the hours of 1 p.m. and 8 p.m.  Details for all activities impacted by Fire Season and the Regulated-Use Closure are available at www.odfcentraloregon.com.

“We recognize that recent moisture and cooler temperatures has reduced fire danger across the District, however warmer than average temperatures are forecast for the next week or more with no expected precipitation,” explains Mike Shaw, District Forester.  “We want to make sure that our restrictions are focused on the timing and activities we believe have a strong potential to ignite fires.”

The lack of precipitation, combined with drought conditions and extremely dry fuels continues to keep the risk of wildfire ignition elevated even as we transition to fall.  Shorter days and increased humidity can give a false sense of reduced fire risk during these transition seasons.  Weather patterns in the fall can change rapidly with increased winds and warm afternoons after a cooler morning.  Following the Regulated-Use Closure restrictions limits potential fire ignitions from sparks or embers. 

Fire Season remains in effect, debris burning, including burn barrels, are not allowed at this time. Additionally, many counties and local fire departments have burn bans in effect.

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.

For additional information on ODF’s Central Oregon District, including contact information and unit offices, please visit www.ODFcentraloregon.com.

Thursday, September 16, 2021

 Fire Prevention Measures Remain:  Precipitation is Not Enough to Reduce Fire Danger

[The Dalles, Ore.]  With rain in the forecast, Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) fire officials want to remind the public that both Hood River and Wasco counties still have a burn ban in place, prohibiting all open burning.  This restriction includes debris pile burning and burn barrels. Lifting of the burn ban is coordinated between ODF and Fire Districts in Hood River and Wasco counties.  Fire District officials will continue to monitor conditions, including fuel moisture levels, forecasted temperature and wind, and relative humidity.  These conditions help them to evaluate the potential for fire spread and how easily a spark might ignite nearby fuels. 

In addition to the burn ban, Fire Season and a Regulated-Use Closure are still in effect for private ownership, as well as state and municipally owned lands in Hood River and Wasco counties within ODF’s Central Oregon District.  The associated prevention measures are intended to reduce potential human caused fire ignitions in wildland fuels.  Recent rain and precipitation forecasted for later this week and weekend is not enough to eliminate the effects of long-term drought and a dry summer on vegetation and forest fuels.

“We are getting closer to loosening some of our restrictions”, commented Kristin Dodd, Unit Forester for The Dalles Unit.  “The cooler temperatures and shorter days, combined with recent precipitation definitely lessened our fire risk, but it is still too risky to open backyard burning quite yet.”  Much of the impact on fuels from last week’s rain has been lost due to wind and warm temperatures.  Large fuels especially need more moisture and flashy fuels such as grass quickly dry out and become receptive fuel beds to sparks.

The public is asked to be patient, continue following prevention measures, and limit any activities which could ignite a wildfire.  Once conditions are favorable for burning, fire officials will lift the burn ban accordingly.

In addition to restrictions on open fires, Regulated-Use Closure also prohibits smoking outside a vehicle in forest settings, and restricts chainsaw use and mowing of dried grass between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.  Details for all activities impacted by Fire Season and the Regulated-Use Closure are available at www.odfcentraloregon.com.

For additional information on ODF’s Central Oregon District, including contact information and unit offices, please visit www.ODFcentraloregon.com.

Monday, September 13, 2021

Fire Prevention Measures Reduced for Industrial Operations 

[Prineville, Ore.]  Fire prevention restrictions on industrial forest operations within Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District will be reduced beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, September 14th.  Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) for MH-4 and MH-1 will move to Level 2, and Additional Restrictions on industrial operations in the Prineville and John Day Units will be rescinded.  MH-4 and MH-1 includes private, state, and municipal ownership protected by ODF in Hood River and Wasco counties, within the Central Oregon District (COD) boundary.  Fire Season remains in effect, and all forest operations must follow fire season requirements for forest operations.  Included in these requirements are fire watches, spark arresters, and fire tools; the full description of fire season requirements can be found at https://www.oregon.gov/odf/fire/documents/fire-season-requirements-for-industrial-operations.pdf. 

MH-1 & MH-4 IFPL 2 (Limited Shutdown): The following activities are not permitted between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.:

  • Power saws, except power saws may operate at loading sites;
  • Feller-bunchers with rotary head saws;
  • Cable yarding
  • Blasting
  • Welding, cutting, or grinding of metal

More information regarding fire season requirements for industrial operations is available at https://gisapps.odf.oregon.gov/firerestrictions/ifpl.html.

Favorable weather, including measurable precipitation and cooler temperatures, has moderated fire behavior over the last week allowing managers to reduce these restrictions.  However, long term drought effects persist in vegetation and fuels across the District.

Regulated-Use Closure remains in effect for the Central Oregon District.  Fires, including campfires, cooking fires, warming fires, and debris burning are not allowed within the district boundary. 

For additional information on ODF’s Central Oregon District, including contact information and unit offices, please visit www.ODFcentraloregon.com.