News releases articles

With the increasing fire danger MH-4 will be increasing its Industrial Fire Precaution Level, IFPL 2 to an IFPL 3 Saturday August 1st 2020 at 12:01 AM.  This effects all operations WEST of Hwy 35 within the Oregon Department of Forestry’s fire protection The Dalles Unit.  There will be a 2 hour fire watch required after operations are complete. All lands protected by the Central Oregon Protection District, in regulated use area MH-4 and all forestland within one-eighth mile thereof....

[PRINEVILLE, Ore.]  Fire danger in Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District moved to “extreme” Monday based on fuel conditions and potential rate of spread of wildland fires.  Additional fire prevention measures were implemented to reduce potential human starts across ODF protected lands.  Red Flag Warnings issued by the National Weather Service for lightning, wind, and high temperatures starting Monday heightened fire manager’s concern for increased fire activity.  Today, ODF and federal partners have reconnaissance aircraft...

[PRINEVILLE, Ore.]  Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District will be increasing restrictions for forest operations and the public beginning July 27, 2020 at 12:01 a.m.  These restrictions are intended to reduce the risk of fire ignition on lands within the Central Oregon District in Lake, Harney, Deschutes, Crook, Wasco, Hood River, Grant, Wheeler, Gilliam, Jefferson, Morrow, and Umatilla counties.  Minimal precipitation combined with increasing hot temperatures has continued to dry wildland vegetation and fuels, increasing the...

Department of Forestry Reminds Public of Current Fire Prevention Restrictions [Prineville, Ore.]  Regulated-Use Closure for lands protected by Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District went into effect July 1, 2020.  These restrictions are intended to limit activities which have an increased potential of starting fires.  Current fuel conditions in the District are likely to result in a rapidly spreading fire from activities such as a spark from a lawnmower blade on rock.  Under the Regulated-Use Closure activities are...

[Prineville, Ore.]  Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District will enter Regulated-Use Closure beginning at 12:01 a.m. July 1, 2020.  The closure is intended to restrict activities that could spark fires in dry wildland fuels. Lands included in this closure include private, municipal and state owned lands protected by the Central Oregon District, in the following counties:  Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson, Grant, Wheeler, Morrow, Gilliam, Hood River, Lake, Harney, Umatilla, and Wasco. Activities below are restricted by this...

Date:  June 29, 2020 Contacts:  Christie Shaw, Oregon Department of Forestry (541-263-0661)       [Rowena, Ore.]  Overnight firefighters on the Rowena Fire were able to complete fireline around the perimeter and begin mop-up on the interior of the fire.  This morning there is limited visible smoke or flames.  Firefighters will continue mop-up work today, with the plan to have 100% mop-up across the fire using a gridding process to locate any heat inside the perimeter. Mop-up in some of the more rugged portions of the fire did...

[Prineville, Ore.]  Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District will enter Fire Season June 1, 2020 at 12:01 a.m.   This affects private, county, state, and local government lands within the District Boundary.  Summer weather patterns continue to dry wildland fuels and increase the risk for fire spread, these weather patterns also bring the risk of lightning and increase fire activity in the area.  Fire season declaration is intended to reduce human fire starts by restricting some activities related to forest operations and...

This letter recently went out to landowners/operators in the Prineville Unit, but the message is valuable for landowners across the region who may have burned debris or other material.  As the temperatures warm there is potential for any remaining heat or flame to rekindle. Dear Landowner or Operator, This letter is a reminder to check your burn piles to ensure that they are DEAD OUT. Burn piles can smolder for several months, even though there may not be any visible smoke or flame. As the weather gets warmer and drier, burning in the piles becomes more active....

[The Dalles, Ore]  In coordination with Wasco County and the County Fire Defense Board, The Dalles Unit of the Oregon Department of Forestry is prohibiting open burning within the Central Oregon District Boundary in Wasco County beginning June 1, 2020.  Low snow pack and limited spring moisture have contributed to unseasonably dry wildland fuel conditions.  These conditions have prompted fire managers to implement the annual burn ban a month earlier for lands in Wasco County.  Recent precipitation will provide a short reprieve from the increasing...

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING                     Pursuant to ORS 477.250, notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held to receive from any interested persons suggestions, advice, objections or remonstrance’s to the proposed budget for the Central Oregon Forest Protection District.  A hearing will be held on Monday, April 27, 2020, at 1:00 P.M., at the Oregon Department of Forestry – District Office, 3501 NE 3rd Street, Prineville, OR. Copies of the tentative budget...

Oregon Department of Forestry Urges Caution With Spring Debris Burning [Prineville, Ore.] Spring is often the time when landowners work to clean up vegetation and yard debris from around their homes.  However, the Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District reminds landowners to be cautious if they plan to burn that material.  Weather in the spring can often be erratic and winds can pick up suddenly, fanning flames and dispersing embers into dry fuels nearby.  Cleaning gutters, removing leaves and needles from roofs, and clearing dead...

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY OFFICES OFFERING PUBLIC SERVICES BY APPOINTMENT ONLY STARTING MARCH 23 News Release from Oregon Dept. of Forestry Posted on FlashAlert: March 19th, 2020 1:16 PM Contact information for Central Oregon District offices can be found here. SALEM, Ore. -- In an effort to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in Oregon and protect employees and the public, the Oregon Department of Forestry will be changing the way it provides services at its main office in Salem and field offices statewide starting Monday, March 23. Offices will remain open and can...

[Prineville, Ore]  Recent cool temperatures and precipitation have brought an end to the 2019 fire season for Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District.  At 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, September 26, 2019 fire season will officially be terminated.  Wildland fuels across the District do not pose a significant risk of rapid fire growth, however weather and fuel conditions during the fall can change quickly.  The public is reminded to follow all local burning restrictions to reduce the risk of escaped debris burns. “We still want...

[Prineville, Ore]  Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) has terminated Regulated-Use Closure for lands within the Central Oregon District (COD) effective 12:01 a.m.  September 16, 2019.  Lands affected include private, county, and municipal ownership inside the Central Oregon District Protection Boundary within the following counties:  Wasco, Hood River, Wheeler, Sherman, Umatilla, Grant, Morrow, Harney, Gilliam, Jefferson, Lake, Crook, and Deschutes.  While campfires will be allowed with owner permission inside the District, Rob Pentzer,...

[Prineville, Ore]  Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) is reducing fire prevention restrictions for lands within the Central Oregon District beginning at 12:01 a.m. on September 5, 2019.  Lands affected include private, county, and municipal lands inside the Central Oregon District Protection Boundary within the following counties:  Wasco, Hood River, Wheeler, Sherman, Umatilla, Grant, Harney, Gilliam, Jefferson, Lake, Crook, and Deschutes.  The lessened restrictions reflect a reduced potential for large fire growth based on current fuel...

[Prineville, Ore]  Fire season remains in effect for lands protected by Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District despite recent rains and cooler temperatures.  A Regulated Use Closure restricting activities with an increased risk of ignition is also in effect for the District.  Rain from earlier this week has not reduced the risk of large fire growth.  Fire managers continue to monitor fuels and evaluate conditions for fire danger.  “While we haven’t seen the wildfire activity in central Oregon like we have in recent years, we...

[Prineville, Oregon]  Eastern Oregon received over 13,000 lightning strikes as numerous thunderstorms moved across eastern Oregon in the last ten days.  Firefighters have taken action on seventy fires across the six million acres of land protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and Walker Range Forest Patrol in the Eastern Oregon Area.  Of these seventy fires only one grew larger than ten acres, and the majority were suppressed as single trees or less than a tenth of an acre.  ODF firefighters also assisted federal partners and rural...

[Prineville, Ore]  Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District will be increasing restrictions to reduce human caused wildfires at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, August 7, 2019.  Private, state, and municipally owned lands protected by the Central Oregon District in the following counties are affected by these restrictions:  Hood River, Wasco, Gilliam, Wheeler, Grant, Umatilla, Harney, Lake, Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, and Morrow.  The increased restrictions are being implemented based on current fuel conditions and potential of rapid fire...

[Prineville, Ore.] Regulated Use closure has been declared for Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District beginning at 12:01 a.m. Saturday June 29, 2019.  The closure is intended to reduce wildfires related to high risk activities as wildland fuels dry out.  Lands included in this closure include private, municipal and state owned lands protected by the Central Oregon District, in the following counties:  Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson, Grant, Wheeler, Morrow, Gilliam, Hood River, Lake, Harney, Umatilla, and Wasco. Activities below are...