Central Oregon public lands enter Phase 1 of public use fire restrictions Monday as ODF fire danger level reaches 'high'

(Update: ODF announcement)

Open fires prohibited except in wild areas, designated places

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Due to increasingly hot and dry conditions, as well as an increase in fires, the Deschutes National Forest, Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland, along with the Prineville District Bureau of Land Management, will move to 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 with one lightning-sparked fire on less than a tenth of an acre.

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

Ochoco National Forest
Lookout 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 Campground, Bull Bend Campground, Chief Paulina Equestrian Campground, 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 and Group Camp, Little Lava Lake Campground, Mallard Marsh Campground, McKay Crossing Campground, Newberry Group Campground, North Twin Lake Campground, Ogden Group Campground, Paulina Lake Campground, Point Campground, Prairie Campground, Quinn Meadow Equestrian Campground, Quinn River Campground, Rock Creek Campground, Sheep Bridge Campground, South Campground, South Twin Campground, Wyeth Campground, West South Twin Campground

Red Crescent Ranger District: Contorta Flat Campground, Contorta Point Group Campground, Crescent Lake Campground, Odell Lake Resort and Campground, Princess Creek Campground, Shelter Cove Resort and Campground, Simax Group Campground, Spring Campground, Sunset Cove Campground, Trapper Creek Campground, Whitefish horse camp, Windy group site

Ranger Sisters District: Allen Springs Campground, Allingham Campground, Blue Bay Campground, Camp Sherman Campground, Candle Creek Campground, Cold Springs Campground, Driftwood Campground, Gorge Campground, Graham Corral Equestrian 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 Equestrian Camp, Smiling River Campground, South Shore Campground, Three Creek Meadow Campground and Equestrian Camp, Three Creek Lake campground, Whispering Pines equestrian camp

Prineville BLM District

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 fire restrictions, smoking is prohibited except in an enclosed vehicle or building, at a designated campsite, or while stationary in an area at least three feet in diameter that is sterile or cleared of flammable materials.

Travel off of developed roads and trails is also prohibited, except to a campsite located within 300 feet of an open developed road. Ownership or operation of a motor vehicle off of National Forest System roads is prohibited, except in accordance with travel management rules and the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM).

Liquid and pressurized gas stoves, lanterns, and fire pits with on/off switches are permitted outside of designated campgrounds. Exceptions to this rule are BLM-designated campgrounds along portions of the Crooked, Deschutes, John Day, and White Rivers, as well as on BLM-administered lands along Billy Chinook and Simtustus Lakes.

These public use restrictions do not replace the annual river corridor restrictions that were implemented on June 1. These restrictions prohibit campfires, charcoal fires or any other type of open flame. This includes banning the use of portable propane campfires and wood pellet burning appliances. Commercially manufactured lanterns and metal camp stoves used for cooking are permitted when fueled with bottled propane or liquid fuel and used responsibly.

Possession, discharge, or use of any type of fireworks or other pyrotechnic device or use of an explosive is still prohibited on Central Oregon National Forest System lands and currently prohibited on BLM-administered lands in central Oregon.

The Fire Hazard 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 water on site 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 Information Line at 1-800-523-4737.

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

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Central Oregon District Enters High Fire Danger Beginning July 1
Oregon Department of Forestry

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

With temperatures continuing to be high, winds and drying fuels, the District is imposing public restrictions and regulated use closures in recognition of the increasing fire risk to reduce the risk of human-caused fires.

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

• The use of fireworks and dynamite is prohibited.
• No debris is 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 permitted, but require a shovel and a gallon of water or a 2 ½ pound fire extinguisher on site.
• The use of chainsaws and mowing of dry grass is prohibited between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. A one-hour fire watch is required.
• Smoking is prohibited while traveling or working in an operating area.

In addition to the fire prevention requirements under IFPL II (two), limited shutdown, the following activities are not permitted between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m., unless otherwise noted:

• Electric saws can operate at loading sites;
• Rotary head saw feller bunchers;
• Cable unwinding
• Blasting
• Welding, cutting or grinding metals

Additional fire restrictions or regulations may apply depending on different fire hazards. See the full list of restrictions at

For more information on the Central Oregon District and fire season regulations, visit

The fewer human-caused fires there are, the less strain on district resources. For tips on preventing wildfires, visit www.keeporegongreen.org.