Central Oregon public lands enter Stage 1 public use fire restrictions Monday as ODF’s fire danger level rises to ‘high’

(Update: ODF announcement)

Open fires prohibited except in wilderness areas, designated locations

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Due to increasingly hot and dry conditions, as well as increased fire starts, the Deschutes National Forest, Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland, and Prineville District Bureau of Land Management will move into Stage 1 public use fire restrictions on Monday, July 1.

As of June 26, 85 human-caused fires have burned 5,612 acres in Central Oregon, compared to one lightning-caused fire at under a tenth of an acre.

Effective at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, Stage 1 public use fire restrictions prohibit open fires, including wood stoves and charcoal briquette fires, on Central Oregon public lands, except within the Deschutes National Forest wilderness areas (Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, Three Sisters, Diamond Peak and Mt. Thielsen wildernesses) and in the following designated areas:

Ochoco National Forest
Lookout Mountain Ranger District: Antelope Flat Reservoir, Ochoco Divide Campground, Ochoco Forest Campground, Walton Lake Campground and Wildcat Campground

Paulina Ranger District: Cottonwood Pit,Deep Creek Campground, Sugar Creek Campground, Wolf Creek Campground,

Crooked River National Grassland
Haystack Reservoir Campground and Skull Hollow Campground

Deschutes National Forest

Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District: Big River Campground, Big River Group Camp, Bull Bend Campground, Chief Paulina Horse Camp, Cinder Hill Campground, Crane Prairie Campground, Cultus Lake Campground, East Lake Campground, Elk Lake Campground, Fall River Campground, Fall River Guard Station, Gull Point Campground, Lava Lake Campground, Little Crater Campground, Little Cultus Lake Campground, Little Fawn Campground & Group Camp, Little Lava Lake Campground, Mallard Marsh Campground, McKay Crossing Campground, Newberry Group Camp, North Twin Lake Campground, Ogden Group Camp, Paulina Lake Campground, Point Campground, Prairie Campground, Quinn Meadow Horse Camp, Quinn River Campground, Rock Creek Campground, Sheep Bridge Campground, South Campground, South Twin Campground, Wyeth Campground, West South Twin Campground

Crescent Ranger District: Contorta Flat Campground, Contorta Point Group Camp, Crescent Lake Campground, Odell Lake Resort and Campground, Princess Creek Campground, Shelter Cove Resort and Campground, Simax Group Camp, Spring Campground, Sunset Cove Campground, Trapper Creek Campground, Whitefish Horse Camp, Windy Group Site

Sisters Ranger District: Allen Springs Campground, Allingham Campground, Blue Bay Campground, Camp Sherman Campground, Candle Creek Campground, Cold Springs Campground, Driftwood Campground, Gorge Campground, Graham Corral Horse Camp, Indian Ford Campground, Jack Creek Campground, Lava Camp Lake Campground, Link Creek Campground, Lower Bridge Campground, Lower Canyon Creek Campground, Perry South Campground, Pine Rest Campground, Pioneer Ford Campground, Riverside Campground, Scout Lake Campground, Sheep Springs Horse Camp, Smiling River Campground, South Shore Campground, Three Creek Meadow Campground & Horse Camp, Three Creek Lake Campground, Whispering Pines Horse Camp

Prineville District BLM

Castle Rock Campground, Chimney Rock Campground, Cobble Rock Campground, Lone Pine Campground, Palisades Campground, Poison Butte Campground, Post Pile Campground, Still Water Campground

Additionally, under Stage 1 public use fire restrictions, smoking is prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, designated campground, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.

Traveling off developed roads and trails also is not allowed, except for the purpose of going to and from a campsite located within 300 feet of the open developed road. It is prohibited to possess or use a motor vehicle off National Forest System roads except when operating in compliance with travel management rules and the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM).

Liquid and pressurized gas stoves, lanterns and fire pits with an on and off switch are allowed outside of designated campgrounds. The exception to this is BLM-designated campgrounds along portions of the Crooked, Deschutes, John Day, and White Rivers, as well as on BLM-administered lands along Lake Billy Chinook and Lake Simtustus.

These public use restrictions do not replace the annual river corridor restrictions which were implemented June 1. These restrictions prohibit campfires, charcoal fires, or any other type of open flame. This includes a ban on the use of portable propane campfires and wood pellet burning devices. Commercially manufactured lanterns and metal camp stoves used for cooking are allowed, when fueled with bottled propane or liquid fuel and operated in a responsible manner. 

Possessing, discharging or using any kind of firework or other pyrotechnic device or using an explosive is always prohibited on National Forest System lands in Central Oregon and currently prohibited on BLM-administered lands in Central Oregon.

The fire danger rating is currently “high” and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) is currently at IFPL 1, which requires a one-hour fire watch after equipment is shut down for the day and onsite water and/or a fire extinguisher and tools to prevent the spread of any fire.

Information on current restrictions or the current Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) can be obtained by contacting your Central Oregon Fire Use Information Line at 1-800-523-4737.

For current wildfire information, the public can visit centraloregonfire.org or follow fire information on X/Twitter @CentralORfire. Call 9-1-1 to report a wildfire.

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Central Oregon District enters High Fire Danger July 1
Oregon Dept. of Forestry 

PRINEVILLE, Ore. – Starting Monday, July 1, 2024, at 12:01 a.m. on all lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District, the district’s fire danger level will be “High,” and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) will be II (two) in MH-1 (portions of Hood River and Wasco counties). 

With continued high temperatures, winds and drying fuels, the district is issuing public restrictions and regulated use closures in recognition of the increasing fire danger in order to reduce the risk of human-caused fires. 

With that in mind, the Central Oregon District restricts the following activities: 

• Use of fireworks and blasting is prohibited. 
• No debris burning, including piles and debris burned in burn barrels.
• Open fires are prohibited, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, except in designated areas. Propane fire pits and camp stoves are allowed but require one shovel and one gallon of water or one 2 ½ pound fire extinguisher on site.
• Chainsaw use and mowing of dried grass is prohibited, between the hours of 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. One hour fire watch required.
• No smoking while traveling through or working in any operation area.

In addition to the fire prevention requirements Under IFPL II (two), limited shutdown, the following activities are not permitted between the hours of 1 p.m. and 8 p.m., except as noted: 

• Power saws may operate at loading sites;
• Feller-bunchers with rotary head saws;
• Cable yarding
• Blasting
• Welding, cutting, or grinding of metal

Additional fire restrictions or regulations may apply depending on the various fire risks. Check the full list of restrictions at https://www.oregon.gov/odf/fire/pages/restrictions.aspx. 

For more information on the Central Oregon District and fire season regulations, visit https://odfcentraloregon.com/.

The fewer human-caused fires we have, the less the district’s resources are strained. For tips on wildfire prevention, visit www.keeporegongreen.org.