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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...

[Parkdale, Ore.]  Today firefighters on the 80 acre 1620 Road Fire continued efforts mopping-up adjacent to the fireline.  Securing this perimeter ensures that fire will not move outside the line.  The fire is 100% contained, with 95% control. The fire burned primarily within a young timber stand with old logging slash.  There were no structures threatened or destroyed and no injuries were reported on the fire. Saturday evening the fire was transitioned back to the local unit to continue work mopping-up the interior of the fire.  Firefighters...

[Parkdale, Ore.]  Firefighters on the 1620 Road Fire reached 100% containment Thursday after completing handline construction around the spotfire perimeter.  The combined fire acreage is 80 acres.  The fires are 75% controlled and today firefighters will continue to strengthen and secure firelines.  The fire was first reported June 24th burning on private lands west of Parkdale, Oregon.  The cause of the fire is still under investigation at this time. With completion of the fireline firefighters are turning their efforts to the mop-up...

[Parkdale, Ore.]  Firefighters on the 1620 Road Fire made significant progress constructing fireline Wednesday and continued to hold the fire within the existing footprint.  Mop-up work adjacent to the fireline continues on portions of the fire where firelines are established and secure.  Firefighters were able to take advantage of increased humidity and wetting rain Wednesday which moderated fire behavior allowing them to focus on line construction.  With the moderated fire behavior firefighters were able to get around the fire perimeter with GPS...