Fire articles

The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) is holding a series of community information sessions starting July 26 and 27 in southwest Oregon. Each session will include a presentation about the map’s function and purpose, how wildfire risk is assessed, and how property owners may appeal their assigned risk class. Time will be available to address questions from community members. The wildland-urban interface (WUI) and statewide wildfire risk map available through the Oregon Explorer is a tool to help inform decision making and planning related to mitigating wildfire risk...

  Fire Season Declared for ODF’s Central Oregon District: Additional Wildfire Prevention Restrictions to be Implemented [Prineville, Ore.] The Dalles and John Day units of Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District will enter fire season at 12:01 a.m., June 27, 2022.  This declaration includes private and non-federal public lands in Hood River, Wasco, Grant, Wheeler, Gilliam, Harney, and Morrow counties protected by ODF; the Prineville-Sisters Unit (Crook, Jefferson, and Deschutes counties) declared fire season June 13, 2022. Activities prohibited...

[The Dalles, Ore.] Debris burning is the leading cause of wildfires across Oregon, already accounting for seventy percent of the fires this year in the Central Oregon District.  These fires damage natural resources and threaten homes and communities.  Oregon Department of Forestry’s The Dalles Unit closed burning of forest slash in April and burning of debris piles in Wasco County closed on May 15 to help reduce the risk of uncontrolled fires.  Wasco County and fire districts within, will be implementing a county wide burn ban effective June 15, 2022.  This ban...

[Prineville, Ore.] The Prineville-Sisters Unit of Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District will enter fire season at 12:01 a.m., June 13, 2022. Lands protected by ODF in Jefferson, Crook, and Deschutes counties are affected by this declaration, this includes private and non-federal public lands.  ODF protected lands in The Dalles and John Day units are not included at this time. “We are monitoring conditions closely across the other units of the Central Oregon District so we can implement Fire Season and other restrictions to prevent wildfires...

[Prineville, Ore.] Two wildfires reported Wednesday within Oregon Department of Forestry’s Prineville-Sisters Unit were related to uncontrolled debris burns. Burning of debris and other vegetation on lands protected by ODF require a permit and debris burning in Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties closed on May 31st for lands within many local fire districts.  Despite recent rain, fuels and vegetation in central Oregon continue to see the effects of long-term drought.  Warm temperatures and wind can quickly dry fine fuels, allowing them to readily catch fire. ...

[The Dalles, Ore.] Beginning May 15th burning yard debris, material from fuel reduction projects, and other commercial forest slash will be prohibited for lands protected by The Dalles Unit of the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF).  This includes private, municipal, county, and state owned lands within ODF’s protection boundary in Wasco and Hood River counties.  Landowners whose property is within a local fire district may be able to obtain a permit from their fire district for yard debris and burn barrels.  Escaped debris burning is a leading cause of wildfires in...

Fire Season Ends for ODF’s Central Oregon District [Prineville, Ore.]  Fire Season in Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District will terminate at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, October 16, 2021.  Burning of slash piles or other debris from forest operations or fuels treatment projects will not be permitted until additional precipitation is received. Cooler fall temperatures and periodic moisture has reduced fire behavior and improved fuel conditions across the District. “Ending Fire Season doesn’t mean there isn’t a risk of wildfire,” emphasizes Frank...

[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...

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...

[Prineville, Ore.]  Beginning June 1, 2021 the John Day Unit will join The Dalles and Prineville units of the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District in implementing fire season. Cooler temperatures and precipitation over the last few weeks has been a welcome reprieve from the rising fire danger observed this spring.  However, warm temperatures and windy conditions in the forecast will quickly dry wildland fuels bringing the return of unseasonably high wildfire danger across the area.  Human caused fires for 2021 within ODF’s Central Oregon District...

[Prineville, Ore.] Fire Season will begin for The Dalles and Prineville units of Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, May 15, 2021. Leadership within the District have been monitoring fuel conditions this spring, as well as reviewing snowpack, weather forecasts and drought impacts.  The limited precipitation across the region this spring has affected down woody fuel moisture content as well as the condition of live vegetation fuels and their susceptibility to fire ignition and spread.  Conditions in The Dalles and...