The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Wildland Fire Service (USWFS) announced October 1 that they are launching prescribed burning operations throughout Oregon and Washington as weather, fuel moisture, and air quality conditions become favorable this fall. Operations will continue through the fall and winter as conditions allow.

The announcement comes as fire managers in the Pacific Northwest see a critical window to conduct beneficial burns before winter — an opportunity that was largely unavailable during the record-dry 2026 summer.

Why Prescribed Fire Matters

Prescribed burns — carefully planned and managed fires ignited by agency personnel — are one of the most effective tools land managers have for reducing wildfire risk. By burning accumulated fuels under controlled conditions, agencies can:

  • Reduce the volume of dead wood, brush, and grass that fuels catastrophic wildfires
  • Restore fire-adapted ecosystems that depend on periodic burning
  • Create fuel breaks that slow future wildfire spread
  • Improve wildlife habitat and water quality over time

The massive 2026 fire season has reinforced the urgency of proactive fuel reduction. Many of the areas that burned most severely this summer had not experienced fire — prescribed or wildfire — for decades, allowing fuels to accumulate to dangerous levels.

Where Burns Are Planned

The BLM and USWFS have not released a specific schedule or list of planned burn units, as prescribed fire operations are highly weather-dependent. Agency burn bosses will monitor daily conditions and issue public notifications before ignitions occur, typically 24 to 48 hours in advance.

Planned burn areas span BLM-managed lands across both Oregon and Washington, with a focus on areas identified in land management plans as high-priority fuel treatment zones. Members of the public can sign up for local burn notifications through Oregon DEQ’s Smoke Management Program and the Washington Department of Ecology.

Air Quality Coordination

All prescribed burn operations are coordinated with state air quality agencies to minimize smoke impacts on communities. Burn bosses will evaluate smoke dispersal forecasts before igniting any unit. On days when smoke may concentrate in populated valleys or sensitive airsheds, burns will typically be postponed.

Residents near planned burn areas may see and smell smoke. Anyone experiencing health effects from smoke exposure should reduce outdoor activity and, if necessary, use indoor air filtration. People with asthma, heart disease, or other respiratory conditions should be especially cautious during burn periods.

Public Information

For information on specific prescribed burns, the public can contact local BLM district offices or the USWFS regional office in Portland. Real-time burn status is typically available through state smoke management websites and AirNow.gov during active operations.