Central Oregon to reduce fire restrictions to Stage 1 starting Saturday

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) --- Fire officials in Central Oregon will reduce public use fire restrictions to Stage 1 starting at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. The decision follows recent moisture and cooler temperatures across the region.

The reduction applies to the Deschutes National Forest, Ochoco National Forest, Crooked River National Grassland and Prineville District Bureau of Land Management.

Under Stage one restrictions, open fires—including wood stoves and charcoal briquette fires—are prohibited on Central Oregon public lands. Exceptions are allowed only in Deschutes National Forest Wilderness Areas and designated campgrounds.

Despite the reduction in restriction levels, fire officials noted that the regional fire danger rating remains high. A high fire danger rating indicates that unattended fires are likely to spread rapidly.

Stage one restrictions set specific rules for equipment powered by internal combustion engines. Chainsaw use is prohibited between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Saw operators must carry a long-handled round point shovel with an 8-inch blade and a minimum 8-ounce ABC fire extinguisher and they must maintain a one-hour fire watch after operations cease. Portable generators are permitted only in areas cleared of all flammable material within a 10-foot diameter and equipped with an approved spark arrestor.

Liquid and pressurized gas stoves, lanterns and fire pits with an on-and-off switch are allowed outside designated campgrounds on most federal lands. However, open flames remain prohibited on Bureau of Land Management lands along designated stretches of the Crooked River, Deschutes River, John Day River, White River, Lake Billy Chinook and Lake Simtustus under annual river corridor restrictions in effect since May 13, 2026. Designated campgrounds where open fires are permitted include specific sites across the Prineville District BLM, Ochoco National Forest, Crooked River National Grassland and Deschutes National Forest ranger districts.

Smoking is prohibited under Stage one restrictions unless inside an enclosed vehicle or building, within a designated campground, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter cleared of flammable material. Traveling off developed roads and trails is restricted, allowing off-road motor vehicle access only to reach campsites within 300 feet of an open developed road. Possessing, discharging or using fireworks, pyrotechnic devices or explosives remains prohibited on all National Forest System and Bureau of Land Management lands in Central Oregon.