News releases articles

Oregon Department of Forestry—The Dalles Unit:  Debris Burning Closes May 15

[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...

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2021 Annual Report

The 2021 Central Oregon District Annual Report was presented to the District Budget Committee April 15th.   "It is my pleasure to present to you the 2021 Central Oregon District Annual Report. As the interim District Forester, I have been blessed to work with an extremely dedicated and talented group of individuals who go above and beyond to accomplish the mission in serving the landowners across Central Oregon.  Below you will find a brief overview of the accomplishments from this past year. A special thanks goes out to the John Day Unit staff for assembling and...

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Public hearing for proposed budget – May 3, 2022

 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...

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Landowner Assistance Available for Fuel Reduction and Defensible Space Projects

PRINEVILLE, Ore. — Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District is accepting applications from landowners interested in completing 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, specifically Juniper Canyon residents in Crook County, DRRH 1-5 & 9 in the La Pine area of Deschutes County, and Crooked River Ranch in Jefferson and Deschutes counties.  Funding for these projects comes from the $5...

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Fire Season Ends for ODF’s Central Oregon District

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...

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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...

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 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...

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 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,...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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 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...

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Dissel Creek Fire-Late Tuesday Evening More Fires Reported from Thunderstorms, More Expected[John Day, Ore.]  Late Tuesday evening two new fires were reported on private land protected by Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) John Day Unit.  The Dissel Creek Fire was reported just before 6:00 p.m., burning five miles southeast of John Day.  While firefighters worked to stop the initial spread of the Dissel Creek Fire a report for a second fire, the Cole Canyon Fire, was received.  This fire is located seven miles northeast of Monument. ...

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 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...

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 Helicopter dropping water on a fallen snag near the fire's perimeter on Saturday.Cottonwood Creek Fire Update[John Day, Ore.]  Overnight the Cottonwood Creek Fire remained within the established firelines.  Light precipitation fell across the fire but was not enough to impact fire fighting activity today.  On Saturday the fire was mapped at 159 acres with 10% containment.  The increased size is due to improved mapping by firefighters, not from fire growth.  The fire was reported mid-day Friday approximately five miles south of Fossil,...

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Cottonwood Creek-Initial Attack July 30, 2021 ODF:  Fire Update July 31, 2021[John Day, Ore.]  Firefighters from the Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) John Day Unit responded to several lightning fires Friday and Friday night.  These fires are holdover fires from thunderstorms which passed through on Thursday.  The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for much of central and eastern Oregon beginning this afternoon for abundant lightning in combination with critically dry fuels.  These thunderstorms may come with...

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 ODF:  Increased Restrictions for Industrial Operations in The Dalles Unit[Prineville, Ore.]  Beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Friday July 16th Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) for MH-4 will increase to Level 3.  MH-4 includes private, state, and municipal ownership protected by Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) west of Hwy 35 within the Central Oregon District (COD) boundary.  The intent of the increased restriction is to reduce possible fire ignition from industrial forest operations.  MH-1, ODF protected lands east of Hwy 35 within...

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 Wildfire Update July 11, 2021Redmond, Ore. – Firefighters from the Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center responded to four wildfires today.  Two of these fires, incidents #556 and #561 were contained at less than a tenth of an acre.    Incident #558, the Grandview Fire, was reported at approximately 1:30 p.m. burning on Oregon Department of Forestry protected lands and the Crooked River National Grassland.  The fire rapidly spread through grass and juniper.  Numerous resources were mobilized to the fire, including wildland...

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 NEWS RELEASE—Dixie Creek Fire Update July 9, 2021—9 a.m.   Contact:  Christie Shaw (541)263-0661 Christie.shaw@oregon.gov www.odfcentraloregon.com   John Day, Ore. – The High Desert Interagency Incident Type 3 Incident Management Team has completed work on the Dixie Creek Fire near Prairie City.  Today they transitioned management of the fire back to Oregon Department of Forestry’s John Day Unit.  A type 4 organization will continue to monitor and patrol the fire and complete any remaining mop-up within the perimeter.  On Thursday...

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Mop-up within the fire perimeter. Lewis Rock Fire UpdateMitchell, OR – Due to more accurate mapping, the fire now stands at 368 acres.  Containment has reached 45 percent.  Full mop-up efforts will continue as crews work to detect and extinguish hot spots.  Today, firefighters will look for pockets of smoldering fuels and occasional isolated flare ups in the far interior of the fire area.  Overall, smoke from the fire will decrease due to consumption of residual fuels and aggressive mop-up efforts.  The forecast includes the return of...

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NEWS RELEASE—Dixie Creek Fire Update July 8, 2021—9 a.m.   Contact:  Christie Shaw (541)263-0661 Christie.shaw@oregon.gov www.odfcentraloregon.com   John Day, Ore. – Firefighters on the 541 acre Dixie Creek Fire near Prairie City have continued to make progress mopping up the interior of the fire, increasing the area of cool black adjacent to the fireline.  This work to secure the fire is a slow process, as firefighters grid the area looking and feeling for hot spots.  The fire is 90% contained. Firefighting resources are being released to...

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Lewis Rock Fire on July 7th Mitchell, OR– Mop-up is in full swing on the Lewis Rock Fire five miles south of Mitchell. The size of the fire has not changed in three days, holding at 440 acres. Containment has reached 30 percent. Part of the mop-up process includes a two-person crew armed with hand-held infrared cameras to detect hot spots undetectable to the human eye. These patches of heat can smolder beneath the surface of bulldozer berms, stumps, rocks and downed logs. Once detected, the area is unearthed with hand tools and soaked much like drowning a...

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Morning Briefing July 7th NEWS RELEASE—Dixie Creek Fire Update July 7, 2021—9 a.m.   Contact:  Christie Shaw (541)263-0661 Christie.shaw@oregon.gov www.odfcentraloregon.com   John Day, Ore. – Firefighters on the Dixie Creek Fire, near Prairie City, continue to make progress mopping-up the fire.  The 541 acre fire is now 75% contained.  There is very little smoke visible within the incident. The increased containment has allowed the fire to release resources from the incident to mobilize to other fires across the state and to return home...

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Dixie Creek Fire Update John Day, Ore. – Firefighters made significant progress securing the Dixie Creek Fire Monday.  The fire remains in the same footprint, however updated mapping has estimated the fire to be 541 acres.  Containment for the fire is estimated at 50%.  High Desert Interagency Type 3 Team is managing the fire, which is burning on Oregon Department of Forestry and Prairie City Rural Fire Department protection.  Nearly 200 firefighters are assigned to the fire. Firefighters are working to mop-up within the perimeter of the fire...

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