With the declaration of fire season yesterday in ODF’s Northwest Oregon District, all 12 fire protection districts and associations are in fire season. Districts and associations declare fire season as local conditions become drier and warmer. Those factors increase the risk of fire starting.
Oregon summers usually see little rainfall, so vegetation will continue to dry out as the summer advances. This makes fuels catch fire more easily and spread more quickly. Fire danger levels are raised when conditions worsen. Higher fire danger levels prompt increased fire restrictions. As the timing of these varies by location, check restrictions for a particular area on ODF’s Fire Restrictions and Closures web page.
Above: Brush, grass and trees like these in central Oregon’s Crook County north of Prineville are quickly drying out under the summer sun. Most fires are caused by careless human activity that ignites these dry fuels. Photo by Jim Gersbach, ODF.