June 18, 2025
ROWENA, Ore. – Firefighters have made significant progress this week, steadily increasing containment on the Rowena Fire each day. Now one week since the fire began, the crews’ tireless efforts are paying off. The southern edge of the fire has up to 150 feet of cold, black line, with other parts of the fire up to 100 feet deep.
Overnight, firefighters continued to patrol for hot spots and mark areas of concern for the incoming day shift. Today, crews will resume detailed grid searches across the fire zone to locate and address any remaining trouble spots. Crews will also continue suppression repair where needed around the fire.
As the situation improves, more crews are being demobilized and are either returning to their home districts or being reassigned to other fires in need of support.
Level 1 and 2 evacuations remain in place. Check the latest perimeter map for up-to-date evacuation information.
The Red Cross shelter remains open at The Dalles Middle School at 1100 East 12th Street. Livestock and horses can be taken to the Wasco County Fairgrounds at 81849 Fairgrounds Road.
I-84 remains open; however firefighters are continuing to work near the roadway; be aware of crews when driving through the area.
Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR): A “TFR” is in place at an altitude from the surface up to and including 6500 feet, daily (24 hours) until further notice. Complete information is available at https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_5_2600. Flying a drone near or around a wildfire compromises the safety of pilots and interferes with firefighting efforts.
June 17, 2025
ROWENA, Ore. – The Rowena Fire is becoming more secure with each passing day as firefighters from the Oregon Department of Forestry worked strategically around the fire perimeter extinguishing hot embers near the edge of the fire. The containment increased to 37% due to efficient firefighting by our air and ground resources. The southeast side of the fire experienced strong gusty winds this afternoon, forcing firefighters to pause felling operations of hazard trees due to increased safety concerns. They will continue falling efforts tomorrow morning when winds are lighter.
Level 3 evacuations on the fire were lifted today at 12:00 pm by the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office allowing landowners the opportunity to return home and assess the condition of their property. Level 1 and 2 evacuation levels remain in effect in the fire area
The Red Cross shelter remains open at The Dalles Middle School at 1100 East 12th Street. Livestock and horses can be taken to the Wasco County Fairgrounds at 81849 Fairgrounds Road.
I-84 remains open, however firefighters are continuing to work near the roadway; be aware of crews when driving through the area.
Closures: Due to the fires, Mayer State Park is closed to the public. More information is available here: https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=117
Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR): A “TFR” is in place at an altitude from the surface up to and including 6500 feet, daily (24 hours) until further notice. Complete information is available at https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_5_2600. Flying a drone near or around a wildfire compromises the safety of pilots and interferes with firefighting efforts.
This will be the final evening update unless conditions change.
June 16, 2025
ROWENA, Ore. – Last night, firefighters continued to strengthen the fire line using sophisticated handheld infrared devices to search for buried heat below the surface. Today, firefighters will mop up identified hot spots and continue to build depth around the fire perimeter utilizing engines and hand crews. Today’s weather will be slightly cooler, but winds will increase with gusts reaching the mid 40 mph range.
With the threat to structures diminishing, the OSFM Green Team is demobilizing this morning ending the unified command with the Oregon Department of Forestry’s IMT2. Oregon Department of Forestry’s work continues as IMT2 took sole command of the fire at 6:00 am this morning. Two OSFM task forces and three overhead personnel will remain for ongoing structural mitigation. We’d like to thank OSFM and the Oregon Fire Service for their immediate response to the Rowena Fire, and the continued partnership with Federal, State, and local agencies. The relationships that are built and maintained keep the unified command model a success when responding to Oregon’s emergency situations.
Level 1, 2 and 3 evacuations remain in effect under the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office’s direction. You can search for specific addresses here: https://perimetermap.com/wascocounty-or
The Red Cross shelter remains open at The Dalles Middle School at 1100 East 12th Street. Livestock and horses can be taken to the Wasco County Fairgrounds at 81849 Fairgrounds Road.
I-84 remains open, however firefighters are continuing to work near the roadway; be aware of crews when driving through the area.
Closures: Due to the fires, Mayer State Park is closed to the public. More information is available here: https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=117
Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR): A “TFR” is in place at an altitude from the surface up to and including 6500 feet, daily (24 hours) until further notice. Complete information is available at https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_5_2600. Flying a drone near or around a wildfire compromises the safety of pilots and interferes with firefighting efforts.
June 16, 2025
ROWENA, Ore. – Today, conditions aligned favorably for firefighters to successfully carry out a strategic firing operation in the southwestern area of the fire. Crews burned the remaining “green” fuel located between the fire’s edge and the control lines to reduce the risk of reignition and strengthen containment efforts. At the end of shift today the fire will be completely lined with handline and control line. Tonight, firefighting crews will continue patrolling fire lines and conducting mop-up operations around the fire area.
Infrared cameras will be used overnight to detect hotspots that may not be visible to the naked eye. These areas will be marked so crews on the day shift can fully extinguish them tomorrow.
In coordination with Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue and the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management, team members from the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) have completed a comprehensive assessment of the fire-affected area. The assessment resulted in identifying a total of 56 residential structures and 91 additional structures—including sheds, barns, and shops— being confirmed lost in this devastating incident.
Today, OSFM resources have begun a gradual demobilization as containment and mitigation work continues around affected residences. Unified Command with the Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Incident Management Team will cease at 6:00 am tomorrow leaving the ODF fire team in sole control of the incident.
Level 1, 2 and 3 evacuations remain in effect under the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office’s direction. You can search for specific addresses here: https://perimetermap.com/wascocounty-or
The Red Cross shelter remains open at The Dalles Middle School at 1100 East 12th Street. Livestock and horses can be taken to the Wasco County Fairgrounds at 81849 Fairgrounds Road.
I-84 remains open, however firefighters are continuing to work near the roadway; be aware of crews when driving through the area.
Closures: Due to the fires, Mayer State Park is closed to the public. More information is available here: https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=117
Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR): A “TFR” is in place at an altitude from the surface up to and including 6500 feet, daily (24 hours) until further notice. Complete information is available at https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_5_2600. Flying a drone near or around a wildfire compromises the safety of pilots and interferes with firefighting efforts.
June 14, 2025
ROWENA, Ore. – Incident priorities remain unchanged today as firefighters continue making steady progress on the Rowena Fire.
Despite sustained winds reaching up to 30 mph overnight, crews had a productive shift. Night operations focused on prepping line along the west and southwest portions of the fire, while patrol and mop-up continued in the southern areas. Fire activity flared up in the northern interior but was successfully extinguished and contained.
Today, crews will continue patrolling and mopping up along the perimeter, while line construction resumes in the southwest to clean up remaining edges. Removing hazard trees remains a top priority, especially along Highway 30 and I-84, where steep terrain and swirling winds pose safety concerns.
Structural resources remain engaged as the Oregon State Fire Marshal begins adjusting its response in line with the decreasing threat to homes.
“As the scope and scale of the fire decrease, we’re adjusting our resources to ensure our workforce continues to align with OSFM’s mission of structural protection. We’re incredibly grateful for the dedication of our crews and look forward to seeing them return home safely to rest and prepare for what’s ahead,”
– Kelly Zakrzewski, Chief of Operations, OSFM
Crews will continue mop-up operations and tactical patrols around previously threatened structures. OSFM will maintain a presence until there is full confidence that the threat to structures has been mitigated.
Winds remain a key factor today. While slightly lighter than yesterday, breezy conditions persist with west-northwest winds ranging from 8–20 mph and gusts up to 33 mph on ridges and upper slopes. Highs are expected in the upper 70s.
“Tomorrow will be the least windy day of the week, but we trade that for even warmer temperatures and lower relative humidities,” – Tom Schuldt, Incident Meteorologist
The drop in wind speeds today will improve helicopter support, allowing for more precise water drops on hotspots within the fire perimeter.
Level 1, 2 and 3 evacuations remain in effect under the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office’s direction. You can search for specific addresses here: https://perimetermap.com/wascocounty-or
The Red Cross shelter remains open at The Dalles Middle School at 1100 East 12th Street. Livestock and horses can be taken to the Wasco County Fairgrounds at 81849 Fairgrounds Road.
I-84 remains open, however firefighters are continuing to work near the roadway; be aware of crews when driving through the area.
Closures: Due to the fires, Mayer State Park is closed to the public. More information is available here: https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=117
Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR): A “TFR” is in place at an altitude from the surface up to and including 6500 feet, daily (24 hours) until further notice. Complete information is available at https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_5_2600. Flying a drone near or around a wildfire compromises the safety of pilots and interferes with firefighting efforts.
June 14, 2025
ROWENA , Ore. – Firefighters working on the Rowena Fire day-shift made good progress in strengthening fire lines around the fire perimeter. Structure crews continued mop-up efforts around homes and buildings extinguishing heat within 50 feet of structures inside the fire perimeter. Firefighters removed hazardous trees to increase safety in the area. Crews continued with structure assessment to determine the extent of damage and loss. This assessment work is expected to be completed this weekend.
Weather conditions remained dry with winds of 15-25 miles per hour and temperatures in the low 70’s. Winds are expected to decrease later this evening with humidities reaching 70-75 % creating favorable fire suppression conditions. The current size of the fire remains at 3,831 acres. More accurate mapping will be available as firefighters continue to work along the fire line and gather updated data.
Crews are working this evening to hold the fire in its current footprint, limiting growth and protecting homes and natural resources. These efforts will assist to increase fire containment.
A community meeting was held tonight at The Dalles High School to provide a current fire update to the public. Fire managers and local officials shared progress updates and fielded questions from the audience. A recording of the meeting will be later posted on YouTube and Facebook for those who couldn’t attend in person.
Level 1, 2 and 3 evacuations remain in effect under the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office’s direction. You can search for specific addresses here: https://perimetermap.com/wascocounty-or
The Red Cross shelter remains open at The Dalles Middle School at 1100 East 12th Street. Livestock and horses can be taken to the Wasco County Fairgrounds at 81849 Fairgrounds Road.
I-84 remains open, however firefighters are continuing to work near the roadway; be aware of crews when driving through the area.
Closures: Due to the fires, Mayer State Park is closed to the public. More information is available here:
https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=117
Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR): A “TFR” is in place at an altitude from the surface up to and including 6500 feet, daily (24 hours) until further notice. Complete information is available at https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_5_2600. Flying a drone near or around a wildfire compromises the safety of pilots and interferes with firefighting efforts.
June 13, 2025
ROWENA, Ore. – Windy conditions and warm weather persisted on the Rowena Fire on Thursday, challenging firefighters as they continued aggressive tactics from the air and widespread structural and natural resource protection on the ground. Despite the conditions, little fire growth was seen, as resources held the fire in its footprint at an estimated 3,500 acres.
Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Complex Incident Management Team 2 in briefed at 2 p.m. with Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) Green Team, who arrived Wednesday evening. ODF Team 2, under delegation by ODF and U.S. Forest Service Columbia River George National Scenic Area created a unified command across the incident as of 7 p.m. on Thursday.
Tonight, under unified command, the fire team will focus on structure protection around Rowena on the southwest side of the fire and scout areas to put in direct fire line to create containment around the perimeter. Firefighters will also patrol the Seven Mile Road between the south side of the fire and homes further down.
As the team integrates and continues to assess incident needs, additional resources are being ordered this evening for Friday’s dayshift, including more aircraft, firefighters, and crews, as well as medics and ambulances. Safety of the surrounding communities and firefighters remains a top priority as decisions are being made.
Evacuations remain in effect under the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office’s direction. Level 1, 2 and 3 have been put in place by the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office. You can search for specific addresses here: https://perimetermap.com/wascocounty-or
The Red Cross has opened a shelter at The Dalles Middle School at 1100 East 12th Street. Livestock and horses can be taken to the Wasco County Fairgrounds at 81849 Fairgrounds Road.
A community meeting will be held Friday night at 7 p.m. at The Dalles High School auditorium. The teams and local agencies will provide a current fire update to the public. A recording of the meeting will be later posted on YouTube and Facebook for those who can’t attend in person.
I-84 remains open, however firefighters are continuing to work on hazard trees near the roadway; be aware of crews when driving through the area.
Closures: Due to the fires, Mayer State Park is closed to the public. More information is available here: https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=117
Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR): A “TFR” is in place at an altitude from the surface up to and including 6500 feet, daily (24 hours) until further notice. Complete information is available at https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_5_2600. Flying a drone near or around a wildfire compromises the safety of pilots and interferes with firefighting efforts.
June 6, 2025
Salem, Ore. – Over the last week, several Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Fire Protection Districts have announced the start of fire season and implemented the necessary fire danger levels and restrictions to reduce the number of human-caused fires.
Fire danger levels may be low, moderate, high, or extreme at different times throughout the year based on local fuel conditions, weather and other potential fire hazards. Public use restrictions on activities are enacted during fire season in an effort to reduce the number of human-caused fires, and may fluctuate throughout the season.
Conditions across the state are quickly becoming more susceptible to wildfire due to reduced rain and high temperatures.
As of today, the following ODF districts have announced their declaration of fire season:
- Southwest Oregon (Jackson and Josephine county) – June 1 – Moderate Fire Danger
- Central Oregon (Hood River, Jefferson, Deschutes, Crook, Morrow, Wheeler, Grant, and Harney County) June 2 – Moderate Fire Danger
- Walker Ranger FPA (northern Klamath County) – June 2 – Moderate Fire Danger
- Northeast Oregon (Wallowa, Union, Umatilla, and Baker County) – June 5 – Low Fire Danger
- Klamath-Lake (Klamath and Lake County) – June 6 – Moderate Fire Danger
- Coos FPA (Coos and Curry County) – June 6 – Low Fire Danger
- Douglas FPA (Douglas County) – June 6 – Moderate Fire Danger
- Western Lane (Lane County) – June 9 – Moderate Fire Danger
- South Cascade (Linn and Lane County) – June 9 – Moderate Fire Danger
Additional fire regulations may be implemented as fire danger level changes throughout fire season.
With the forecast of a hotter, drier summer this year, the Oregon Department of Forestry urges residents not to become complacent in wildfire prevention.
With several districts in or going into fire season, and others not yet there, it’s important to check the local fire restrictions where you live and where you’re planning to travel. Remaining informed of local fire restrictions can prevent you from bringing prohibited fire hazards onto the landscape and from potentially starting the next large wildfire.
Remember, the fewer human-caused fires in Oregon we have, the more you’re helping protect Oregon’s natural resources, communities, and firefighters. For tips on wildfire prevention, visit www.keeporegongreen.org. Check your local restrictions at https://www.oregon.gov/odf/fire/pages/restrictions.aspx.
June 5, 2025
Springfield, Ore. – Fire season on all lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) South Cascade and Western Lane District will begin June 9, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. Starting this Monday, the district’s fire danger level will be “MODERATE” (BLUE), and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) will be I (one).
Earlier this year, fire managers were optimistic regarding this year’s fire season due to the higher-than-normal snowpack and winter rainfall. However, due to the decline in spring rain and rise in temperatures, conditions in the districts are quickly changing to be more susceptible to fire.
Before bringing a fire hazard on the landscape, check the fire restrictions in your local area or the area you’re traveling to.
Beginning June 9, the South Cascade and Western Lane Districts will be implementing restrictions based on fire danger level. MODERATE (BLUE) fire danger level restricts the following activities:
- No debris burning, including piles and burn barrels, unless permitted by the local forester.
- Exploding targets and tracer ammunition, or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base, are prohibited.
- No smoking while traveling through or working in any operational area.
- Use of spark emitting equipment (power saws, mowers, etc.), including the mowing of dried cured grass, is prohibited after 1:00 p.m. and before 8:00 p.m.
In addition to the fire prevention requirements Under IFPL I (one), the following will go into effect:
- A fire watch is required for a minimum of one hour during breaks and at the end of the operational period.
Additional fire restrictions or regulations may apply depending on the changing fire risks throughout the fire season.
The Oregon Department of Forestry urges residents not to become complacent in wildfire prevention. The fewer human-caused fires we have, the less the district’s resources are strained.
ODF’s Western Lane and South Cascade District protect state and private lands in Linn, Lane, and northern Douglas County. For tips on wildfire prevention, visit www.keeporegongreen.org. Check your local restrictions at https://www.oregon.gov/odf/fire/pages/restrictions.aspx.
June 2, 2025
La Grande, OR – While some areas in northeast Oregon remain green, fire activity in the region has started to increase. As a result, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) has declared the start of fire season for the Northeast Oregon District. “Continued dry conditions and increasing temperatures are expected in the coming weeks. These conditions, combined with rising fire danger, have led us to declare fire season,” said Justin Lauer, District Forester.
The fire season will officially begin at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, June 5, for the forests and rangelands protected by the ODF Northeast Oregon District. “With the forecasted weather conditions our fine fuels will continue to cure out making it more likely for fires to spread quickly. Declaring fire season allows us to help prevent human-caused fires, which can be a significant issue throughout the summer,” Lauer explained. The declaration of fire season places fire prevention restrictions on landowners and the public. Additionally, fire prevention regulations on industrial logging and forest management activities are put into place. Lands affected include private, state, county, municipal, and tribal lands in Union, Baker, Wallowa, and Umatilla counties along with small portions of Malheur, Morrow, and Grant counties within the Northeast Oregon Forest Protection District. This area encompasses approximately 2 million acres of protected lands. ODF encourages landowners and the public to help prevent accidental ignitions by taking extra precautions while recreating or working, it can make a difference.
For information on restrictions across the Northeast Oregon District, dial: (541) 975-3027 or visit www.bmidc.org, for current information on fire restrictions.
During Fire Season:
· Debris burning is by permit only. To obtain a burn permit for a debris pile or burn barrel, please call your local ODF office.
o Baker City Sub-Unit: (541) 523-5831
o La Grande Unit: (541) 963-3168
o Pendleton Unit: (541) 276-3491
o Wallowa Unit: (541) 886-2881
· The use of exploding targets, tracer ammunition, or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base is prohibited.
· Logging and other industrial operations must meet requirements for fire prevention, such as fire tools, water supply, and watchman service when those operations are occurring on lands protected by ODF. Contact your local Stewardship Forester at any NEO District office for more information.
· Campfires must be DEAD OUT! Recreationists are reminded that campfires need to be attended to and fully extinguished before being left.
o Possession of the following firefighting equipment is required; shovel or other firefighting tool, minimum of 1-gallon of water, or 2 ½ pound or larger fire extinguisher and a fire watch at least one hour after extinguishing. Get permission from the landowner prior to starting a campfire.
· The use of Sky Lanterns is always illegal in Oregon.
To report a fire, dial 9-1-1.
Make sure you know the fire restrictions before you head out. Check with your local Forest Service office for fire regulations on National Forest land, or BLM office for lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Information on Public-Use Restrictions on the Oregon Department of Forestry, Umatilla National Forest and Wallowa-Whitman National Forest can be found at http://bmidc.org/index.shtml under Current Information: Fire Restrictions.
May 30, 2025
SALEM, Ore. – Today, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) deployed 14 firefighters to Alberta, Canada, four firefighters to Alaska, three to Minnesota, and one to Florida. With fire season beginning in some parts of the state, this will be the agency’s last big out-of-state resource push until the rainy fall returns in Oregon.
Those being deployed to Alberta and Alaska are going through the Northwest Compact, which is a mutual assistance agreement among six states and five NW Canadian provinces and territories. Those deployed to Minnesota and Florida are going through state-to-state mutual aid agreements. Both agreements are in place for organizations to easily share resources with one another, creating a larger and more comprehensive fire management system.
“These agreements help bolster Oregon’s complete and coordinated fire protection system and create a cache of reciprocal resources for all of us to call on when needed,” Michael Curran, ODF’s Fire Protection Division Chief, said.
When wildfire activity is low in Oregon, firefighters can be spared to help in places experiencing high levels of wildfire. This two-week rotation with our partners is our firefighters’ chance to enhance existing skills, learn new ones, and build on long-standing relationships.
“Know that we don’t share these resources without appropriate vetting. Before committing to any out-of-state deployment, we make sure that our own fire management system is still adequately staffed and ready to respond to fires here in Oregon. Serving Oregonians is our first and primary priority,” said Curran.
Oregon can and has called on its out-of-state partners to send resources when wildfires here exceeded our local and state response capacity, most recently in 2024 when ODF received firefighters and equipment from about 21 states, provinces and territories.
May 29, 2025
Prineville, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District is declaring the beginning of fire season on June 2, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. Starting this Monday, the district’s fire danger level will be “Moderate”, and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) will be I (one) in Hood River and Wasco counties.
Earlier this year, fire managers were optimistic regarding this year’s fire season due to the higher-than-normal snowpack. However, due to the decline in spring rain, rise in temperatures, and windy conditions, the fine fuels in the district have begun to dry significantly.
So far this year, the district has experienced 16 fires, of which half were escaped debris burns. Debris burning is the number one cause of human-caused fires in Oregon. At this time, ODF recommends covering your pile until the rainy fall season, when it’s safer to burn.
With fire season in effect, check the fire restrictions in your local area or the area you’re traveling to. Most Central Oregon counties have already enacted debris burn bans.
The declaration of fire season brings regulations based on fire danger level. Regulated activities are known to cause fires and following regulations will help reduce fire starts. Moderate fire danger level prohibits the following activities:
- No debris burning, including piles and burn barrels, unless permitted by the local forester.
- Exploding targets and tracer ammunition, or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base, are prohibited.
- No smoking while traveling through or working in any operation area.
In addition to the fire prevention requirements Under IFPL I (one), the following will go into effect:
- A fire watch is required for a minimum of one hour during breaks and at the end of the operational period.
Additional fire restrictions or regulations may apply depending on the various fire risks throughout the fire season.
The Oregon Department of Forestry urges residents to not become complacent in wildfire prevention. The less human-caused fires we have, the less the district’s resources are strained. For tips on wildfire prevention, visit www.keeporegongreen.org
ODF’s Central Oregon District protects state and private lands in Hood River, Wasco, Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook Morrow, Grant, and Harney County. For more information on the Central Oregon District and fire season regulations, visit https://odfcentraloregon.com/. Check your local restrictions at https://www.oregon.gov/odf/fire/pages/restrictions.aspx.
For local ODF burn information, please call:
- Prineville-Sisters Unit – (541) 447-5658
- John Day Unit – (541)-575-1139
- The Dalles Unit – (541) 296-4626
May 22, 2025
This Declaration Affects 1.8 Million Acres of Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District-Protected Lands
JACKSON & JOSEPHINE COUNTIES, Ore. (May 22, 2025) – The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Southwest Oregon District will officially declare the start of fire season on Sunday, June 1, 2025 at 12:01 a.m. The fire danger level will be “Low” (green) and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) will be I (one). Lands affected by this declaration include 1.8 million acres of state, private, county, city and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) forestlands in Jackson and Josephine counties.
Consistent snow and rain across southern Oregon kept pre-season fires to a minimum until late April, when temperatures began to slowly heat up. Despite the wet spring, recent sunny and windy conditions have supported a gradual drying of vegetation. With these changes, the ODF Southwest Oregon District has responded to 12 fires for a total of 22 acres burned. As conditions continue to trend toward warmer summer-like weather, fire risk and behavior will naturally increase.
The beginning of fire season and Low fire danger brings regulations; these activities are known to cause fires and will be prohibited with the start of fire season:
- No debris burning, including piles and debris burned in burn barrels.
- No fireworks on or within 1/8 of a mile of ODF-protected land.
- Exploding targets and tracer ammunition, or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base, are prohibited.
- Campfires are allowed in designated campgrounds, and on private land with the landowner’s permission. Portable stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels may be used in areas clear of vegetation at any time.
- Smoking while traveling will only be allowed in enclosed vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water and other specifically designated locations.
- Any electric fence controllers must be approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories Inc., or be certified by the Department of Consumer and Business Services and be installed and used in compliance with the fence controller’s instructions for fire safe operation.
The start of fire season also means regulations on industrial activities. Under IFPL I (one), fire season requirements are in effect, in addition to the following:
- A Firewatch is required at this and all higher levels unless otherwise waived.
For more information about the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Fire Season regulations, please call or visit the Southwest Oregon District unit office nearest to you:
Medford Unit, 5286 Table Rock Rd., Central Point – (541) 664-3328
Grants Pass Unit, 5375 Monument Dr., Grants Pass – (541) 474-3152
Additional information about fire season is also available online on our website, www.swofire.com, our Facebook page, @ODFSouthwest and our X account, @swofire.
May 12, 2025
SALEM, OR – The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and other fire prevention experts are urging everyone to exercise caution when disposing of yard debris this spring. There have already been 32 escaped debris burns reported on ODF-protected land in 2025, nearly double the amount compared to this time last year. The average size of a spring escaped debris burn is about one acre, or the size of a football field, and generally requires suppression from the local fire protection agency.
Over seventy-five percent of wildfires in Oregon are human caused, with escaped debris burns topping the list. With forecasters becoming increasingly confident that this season will be hotter and drier than normal, now is the time to practice wildfire prevention. As grass and vegetation begin to dry out, the risk of a fire creeping away from a debris burn pile increases. Make sure to weigh your options and have all of the fire prevention tools in place before lighting the burn pile or incinerator.
Besides burning, preferable options for brush removal include composting or recycling. Check with your local disposal company for recycling options.
But if burning now is the only option to dispose of yard debris, fire prevention specialists ask people to follow safe burning practices.
- Call before you burn—Regulations vary by location. Call your local district, fire protective association, fire department, or air protection authority to learn about current burning restrictions or regulations, and if you need a permit.
- Know the weather—Burn early in the day and never burn on windy days, because fires can spread out of control more easily.
- Always have water and fire tools nearby—When burning, have a shovel and charged water hose or a bucket of water on hand to put out the fire.
- Clear a 10-foot fuel-free buffer around the pile—Make sure there are no tree branches or power lines above.
- Keep burn piles small—Large burn piles can cast hot embers long distances. Keep piles small, maximum of four feet by four feet. Add debris to the pile in small amounts as the pile burns.
- Burn only yard debris—State laws prohibit burning materials, treated wood or trash that create dense smoke or noxious odors.
- Never use gasoline or other flammable or combustible liquids to start or speed up your fire.
- Stay with the fire from start to finish—NEVER leave your debris burn unattended. State law requires monitoring debris burn piles at all times, until it is out cold. This law is intended to ensure sparks or embers that jump from the fire can be put out quickly.
- Put the fire out cold/completely—Drown the pile with water, stir the coals, and drown again, repeating until the fire is cool to the touch.
- Recheck burn piles—Return to the burn site periodically over several weeks to check for heat or smoke and refrain from adding new yard debris on top of old ashes. Burn piles can retain heat for several weeks and rekindle when the weather warms up and winds blow.
- Costs of run-away debris burns—State law requires the proper clearing, building, attending and extinguishing of open fires all year. If your debris burn spreads out of control, you may have to pay for suppression costs, as well as the damage to your neighbors’ properties, which can be extremely expensive.
As the summer fire season quickly approaches, consider putting off any burning until next fall or winter, when conditions are more favorable. Just cover a portion of the pile with plastic, such as a tarp, to keep dry until you decide to burn. Delaying your burn plans will give the debris more time to cure and prevent spring holdover fires.
More tips on wildfire prevention, including campfire safety, motorized equipment use, and fire-resistant landscaping can be found on the Keep Oregon Green website. Find public use restrictions for Oregon Department of Forestry protected lands before your burn.
May 2, 2025
Prineville, OR – The Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District is seeing an uptick in escaped debris burn piles, with several over the past few weeks burning up to 30 acres in size.
For example, a recent 8-acre fire resulted from a week-old burn pile that was assumed to be out cold but rekindled several days later, requiring suppression action by firefighters. Not following burn day instructions, one of which is thoroughly checking the burn piles later when the weather shifts, are the leading causes of these escapes.
Central Oregon District Forester Rob Pentzer reminds residents that escaped debris burns can lead to citations and cost collection from the responsible party for any suppression costs.
“Escaped debris burn fires continue to be the leading human cause of wildfires on private lands.” Pentzer said, “They are also the most preventable, when folks follow the rules.”
ODF Fire Managers and Fire District Chiefs want to remind residents to:
- Check with their local fire district to ensure that burning is allowed on a given day
- Follow all instructions after obtaining any necessary permits.
- Watch the weather forecasts. Wind and rapid weather changes are major factors that can affect the spread of fire from a debris burn.
- Ensure you have a safe fire area cleared around your pile with water and tools readily available.
- Monitor your pile until it has consumed all fuels, then stir with water until the area is out cold. Unattended piles can rekindle and spread later without warning.
With May being Wildfire Awareness Month, now is the time for everyone to take these extra steps to prevent the next wildfire in Oregon. For more wildfire prevention tips, visit KeepOregonGreen.org.
For local ODF burn information, please call:
- Prineville-Sisters Unit – (541) 447-5658
- John Day Unit – (541) 296-9445
- The Dalles Unit – (541) 296-4626
April 7, 2025
SALEM, Ore. – As the Black Cove Complex is turned back to the local district, the Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) 39 firefighters have begun the demobilization process and are returning home.
“This deployment was the best way we could say thank you.” Michael Curran, ODF Protection Division Chief, said. “Firefighters are so interconnected and being able to lean on each other when we need it is what makes us stronger.”
Over the weekend, 26 firefighters flew home, eight people will fly home today, and one individual will fly home on Tuesday. This will leave four ODF staff remaining in North Carolina to help close the Black Cove Complex.
The firefighters went to North Carolina under state-to-state mutual assistance agreements, which creates a reciprocal cache of resources. When wildfire activity is low in Oregon, like during spring, firefighters can be spared to help in places experiencing high levels of wildfire. Oregon can and has called on those same states to send firefighters and equipment when wildfire here exceeds local capacity. Most recently, Oregon gratefully welcomed an incident management team and other overhead positions from North Carolina in the 2024 fire season.
Through these mutual assistance agreements with other states, including Alaska, Hawaii and NW Canadian territories, states, provinces and territories can share resources with one another, creating a larger, comprehensive fire management system.
“The complete and coordinated system is there not just to benefit other states, but Oregon as well when peak season hits,” Curran said.
Oregon saw the benefit of these agreements this past fire season, in which ODF received resources from about 20 states and Canadian provinces/territories. The department is continuing to expand its state-to-state agreements nationwide to facilitate reciprocal resource sharing during heightened times of need.
March 26, 2025
The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) filled an order today to send 11 additional firefighters to North Carolina to support their suppression efforts. This would make the total number of ODF firefighters in North Carolina 37, not including two agency representatives.
The 11 firefighters being deployed include: five from ODF’s Southwest Oregon District, two from the Central Oregon District, two from the Northeast Oregon District and two from the Forest Grove District.
Firefighters are anticipated to be on assignment for 14 days.
Background: Over the weekend of March 21, the Oregon Department of Forestry filled a resource order to send 26 firefighters to North Carolina via a state-to-state mutual aid agreement. That initial group arrived in North Carolina on Sunday, March 23.
With increased fire activity in the state, North Carolina has requested more help and in response the Oregon Department of Forestry is able to send 11 more firefighters.
When: The firefighters will depart from their respective airport tomorrow morning. Airports may vary depending on where the firefighters are based in Oregon.
March 24, 2025
SALEM, Ore. – Over the weekend, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) filled an order to send 26 firefighters and two agency representatives to North Carolina to assist in fighting numerous wildfires in the state. Many of the firefighters arrived in the state yesterday, March 23, and are assigned to the Black Cove incident in western North Carolina.
The two-week rotation with our North Carolina partners is our chance to return the favor. In 2024, North Carolina sent almost a whole incident management team along with several overhead positions in support of Oregon. The added capacity allowed some resource flexibility to ODF in a time when people and equipment were limited.
“Being able to have an additional incident management team (IMT) made it so we did not have to make the hard choice of prioritizing one fire over another,” said Blake Ellis, Fire Operations Manager. “At the time, we had two fires in need of an IMT and only one ODF team available. We were able to fill both incidents’ needs due to the extra support from our North Carolina partners.”
The firefighters were sent to North Carolina under mutual assistance agreements between the two states. When wildfire activity is low in Oregon, firefighters can be spared to help in places experiencing high levels of wildfire.
Oregon can and has called on its out-of-state partners to send resources when wildfire here exceeded our local and state capacity, most recently in 2024 when ODF received firefighters and equipment from about 21 states, provinces and territories.
“These agreements help bolster the complete and coordinated fire protection system and create a cache of reciprocal resources for all of us to call on when needed,” Michael Curran, ODF’s Fire Protection Division Chief, said.
So why does Oregon send resources to help other states? Through these mutual assistance agreements with other states, including Alaska, Hawaii and NW Canadian territories, we can share resources with one another, creating a larger, faster comprehensive fire management system.
“Know that we don’t share these resources without appropriate vetting. Before committing to any out-of-state deployment, we make sure that our own fire management system is still adequately staffed and ready to respond to fires here in Oregon. Serving Oregonians is our first and primary priority,” said Curran.
March 19, 2025
Salem, Ore. – After nearly five years of information collection and analysis, the Oregon Department of Forestry has completed the 2020 Santiam Canyon Wildfire Event investigation report. The Santiam Canyon Wildfire Event is one of 18 fire events that took place over Labor Day week of 2020.
“We recognize the trauma that many Oregonians experienced during the Labor Day Fires, which is why the department is dedicated to making sure these investigations, and every investigation, are thorough and a complete picture of what happened.” Kyle Williams, Deputy of Fire Operations, said.
The Santiam Canyon Wildfire Event is comprised of 19 reports of fire located within the protection boundaries of ODF’s North Cascade District. Seven of which were caused by down powerlines but determined to not contribute to the spread of large fires in the Santiam Canyon. The seven ignitions were suppressed by residents and/or other fire personnel.
The remaining 12 reports of fire were determined to be caused by embers from the Beachie Creek Fire. The Oregon Department of Forestry did not investigate the Beachie Creek Fire because the U.S. Forest Service has jurisdiction over the fire.
There is no evidence of other causes of the fire spread within the Santiam Canyon.
“These types of investigations are rare for the agency.” said Levi Hopkins, Deputy Chief of Policy and Planning for ODF’s Protection Division. “Investigations of this complexity put extreme strain on the agency, past and present, and unfortunately it took longer than even we expected.”
Five investigators, internal to the department and contracted by ODF, were tasked with investigating all known and reported ignitions in the Santiam Canyon within ODF’s North Cascade District jurisdiction with the goal of creating impartial and objective determinations. The investigation team reviewed thousands of pages of documentation, written statements and conducted over 180 interviews with witnesses.
The department recognizes that this has been a long-anticipated report and that there are still several other reports from the 2020 Labor Day Fires that the public would like to see. The remaining reports are currently undergoing cost collection litigation to recoup firefighting costs and reduce financial impacts on taxpayers.
“The scale of work that these investigators were tasked with was massive.” Michael Curran, Protection Division Chief, said, “Cause and origin scene work, large numbers of witness interviews, collection and examination of potential physical evidence, review of extensive documentation and utilization of experts for 19 individual reports of fire requires meticulous organization and attention to detail.”
Starting Labor Day 2020, an extreme east-wind event resulted in the Oregon Department of Forestry suppressing several major wildfires that burned over a million acres from Southwest Oregon up to Northwest Oregon. The department is statutorily required to investigate every fire that ignited on ODF-protected lands and therefore the department investigated roughly 18 large incidents in Oregon that resulted from this one event.
ODF cannot divulge the particulars of ongoing investigations or litigation. ODF’s investigation is designed to objectively determine if someone is liable for a fire on ODF protected land to recoup fire suppression costs. The Oregon Department of Forestry is statutorily obligated to recoup costs in order to reduce the economic impact of a wildfire on Oregon taxpayers.
To learn more, visit the ODF investigations page.
If you would like a copy of the investigation report, please submit a public records request.
February 27, 2025
Salem, Ore. – The sign-up period for the Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) 2025 Incident Resource Agreements (IRA) opens March 1 and will close May 31, 2025.
As a part of Oregon’s complete and coordinated fire system, private contractors provide an array of firefighting resources to ODF and its partnering agencies, including hand crews, water handling/heavy equipment, medical units, security services, mobile kitchens and more. These assets and services are secured by ODF through Call-When-Needed (CWN) Incident Resource Agreements. IRA contractors may select to work within specific ODF districts or be available for statewide assignment.
IRA resources are used on ODF jurisdictional incidents in Oregon.
To sign up to become an IRA resource, email pcsu@odf.oregon.gov or visit https://www.oregon.gov/odf/fire/Pages/firefighting.aspx.
It is important that all potential and current contractors submit new resources or changes to existing resources before May 31.
After the May 31 deadline, the window will be closed for statewide eligible sign-ups.
