Oregon prepares for busy fire season with statewide restrictions

OREGON (KTVZ) -- As of June 15th, all Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) districts have entered fire season, implementing fire restrictions across the state to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires.

The Oregon Department of Forestry, which protects more than 16 million acres of private, county, state, and federal land in Oregon, is preparing for what officials anticipate will be another busy fire season.

Fire Protection Division Chief Michael Curran for the Oregon Department of Forestry, stated the agency is prepared for upcoming conditions. “Looking at the current conditions and projections for the summer, ODF is prepared to have another busy fire season,” Curran said. “Oregonians need to be practicing wildfire prevention and emergency preparedness NOW.”

The declaration of fire season occurs at the local level when conditions indicate a clear risk of fire ignition and spread. This year, the Central Oregon district was the first to declare fire season on May 8th. The Northwest Oregon Area was the last district to declare on June 15th.

Residents and visitors are advised to review wildfire prevention knowledge. Tips include being aware of campfire regulations, as they may be banned or restricted to approved campgrounds. Campfires should be cool to the touch before being left unattended, following the "Drown, Stir, Repeat" method. Private use of fireworks is prohibited on forest land, including all private lands protected by ODF and other state and federal forest lands in Oregon. City and county firework restrictions should also be checked.

Further prevention measures include obtaining burn permits for backyard debris burning during fire season or avoiding it altogether. Previously burned debris sites should be checked for potential reignition. Other tips involve not flicking cigarettes onto the ground, avoiding parking or idling over dried grass and ensuring tow chains do not drag. Checking local restrictions and fire danger levels is also important.

Curran emphasized the critical role of prevention in mitigating fire incidents. “Prevention is our number one tool to reduce property loss, firefighting costs and risk to the lives of our firefighters. We can't prevent lightning fires, but we can prevent human-caused fires,” Curran said.