Central Oregon – Due to cooler temperatures and recent moisture, fire officials on the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests, Crooked River National Grassland, and Prineville District BLM will lower the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) to a Level 1. The fire danger rating will decrease to “high.”
Additionally, effective at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, September 23, 2022, campfires will be allowed in developed campgrounds and dispersed sites on lands managed by the Ochoco National Forest, Crooked River National Grassland, and Prineville District BLM.
Public fire use restrictions remain in place for the Deschutes National Forest. Campfires are currently only allowed in open, designated, developed campgrounds. A list of approved campgrounds can be found here: fs.usda.gov/detail/deschutes/home/?cid=stelprdb5297376. Campfires are not allowed in Wilderness areas.
The IFPL in Central Oregon will drop to IFPL 1, which removes restrictions on the type and timing of commercial activities, including personal woodcutting. Operators are still required to remain onsite for an hour to complete a Fire Watch after equipment is shut down.
Annual campfire restrictions 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 remain in effect until October 15, 2022. Under these annual restrictions, portable propane campfires are prohibited, and campfires are only allowed in designated campgrounds. More details on these seasonal restrictions can be found at https://www.blm.gov/orwafire.
Although recent cooler temperatures and scattered moisture have reduced fire risk, these conditions have not eliminated the potential for wildfires. Fire officials would like to remind the public to continue to be cautious with any possible ignition sources and ensure that all campfires are thoroughly extinguished. Remember to have plenty of water nearby and a shovel on-hand when maintaining a campfire. Using explosive target material, such as Tannerite, explosives, and fireworks are always prohibited on all National Forest lands and remain prohibited on BLM-administered lands in Central Oregon until October 31, 2022.
For current wildland fire information, the public can visit centraloregonfire.org or follow fire information on Twitter @CentralORfire. Call 9-1-1 to report a wildfire.
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