News releases articles

[Prineville, Ore.]  Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District’s Prineville and The Dalles units will terminate Regulated-Use Closure at 12:01 a.m. on October 7, 2022. The John Day unit will stay in Regulated-Use Closure.  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...

[Prineville, Ore.] Thunderstorms swept through the Central Oregon District Tuesday, igniting fifteen fires on Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) protection with the largest fire being ¼ acre.  Significant rainfall accompanied these storms helping to reduce fire behavior.  Additional fire detections from these storms are anticipated as vegetation and fuels dry with warmer, seasonable temperatures and increasing winds.  These holdover fires can creep around smoldering in wet fuels and vegetation for days or weeks until conditions are right for them to...

 John Day, Ore. — Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District is providing rebate funds available for landowners to complete fuel reduction projects around their homes. The intent of the projects is to reduce the potential of wildfire spreading to structures and to improve ingress/egress routes in the wildland-urban interface. These programs are specifically for residents and small forestland owners in Grant County South of Highway 26 to USFS and BLM bordering lands between Laycock Creek and Pine Creek communities, and for Morrow/Wheeler County...

 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 remonstrances to the proposed budget for the Central Oregon Forest Protection District.  A hearing will be held on Friday, May 3rd, 2022, at 1:00 P.M., at the Oregon Department of Forestry – District Office, 3501 NE 3rd Street, Prineville, OR. Copies of the tentative budget may be inspected during normal working hours.  To ensure the broadest range of services to individuals with...

 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,...

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...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 10, 2021 Contact:Glen AhrensOregon State University Extension Service Wildfire Preparedness for Hood River County Join OSU Extension Forestry & Natural Resources, Oregon Department of Forestry, Hood River County Emergency Management and other partners to learn about wildfire preparedness in Hood River County. This online Zoom meeting will help you: ·       Prepare your home and property to reduce risk of burning in the event of fire in your neighborhood. ·       Prepare...

Firefighters Able to Secure Fires from This Week’s Thunderstorms[John Day, Ore.]  No new fires were reported in the John Day Unit Thursday.  Significant progress was made on mop-up and containment of fires from earlier this week. Containment for the Cottonwood Creek Fire has reached 95% on the 159-acre fire.  The fire will transition to a Type 5 incident commander Saturday.  One hand crew will complete mop-up work, gridding for hot spots.  These resources will pull hose and other equipment from the fire.  The fire will be in patrol...

 Firefighters continue to Secure and Mop-up Fires and Prepare for More[John Day, Ore.]  No new fires were reported in the John Day Unit Wednesday.  Extended attack on fires in the John Day Unit have been fully transitioned to mop-up.  Today this work will continue as firefighters prepare for strong winds as thunderstorms pass through the area.  Firefighting resources from these fires will be available to assist in initial attack of any new fire starts today.    Management of the Cottonwood Creek Fire transitioned to a Type 4...

 Cottonwood Creek Fire Update[John Day, Ore.]  Operations across the 159 acre Cottonwood Creek Fire have fully transitioned to mop-up work.  Hoselays have been completed, with water being distributed to all parts of the fire as needed.  Containment for the fire has increased to 40% as of late Monday afternoon.  The fire was ignited by lighting from a passing thunderstorm Thursday afternoon, but was not reported until mid-day Friday.  Dozers, wildland engines, helicopters and airtankers were successful in stopping forward growth of the...