The Bureau of Land Management, in coordination with the U.S. Wildland Fire Service, implemented fire restrictions across all BLM-administered lands in Oregon and Washington effective May 14 — an early move that reflects growing concern over fire conditions this spring. The restrictions mark one of the first major inter-agency fire management actions of the 2026 season in the Pacific Northwest.

What Is Now Prohibited

Under the new BLM fire restrictions, the following are banned on all BLM-managed lands throughout Oregon and Washington:

  • Fireworks of all types
  • Exploding targets and metallic targets
  • Steel component ammunition — including steel core and steel jacket — tracer and incendiary devices
  • Sky lanterns

Campfires and other ground fires may be subject to additional restrictions depending on local conditions. Visitors are advised to check BLM's Oregon/Washington fire restrictions page at blm.gov/orwafire for the latest guidance before heading into the field.

Why the Early Action?

Fire officials cited a combination of below-normal precipitation, early snowmelt, and already-dry fuel conditions as justification for implementing restrictions ahead of the typical schedule. Washington's statewide drought declaration, issued April 8, added urgency to the timeline. Oregon has also experienced widespread drought, particularly in the south and east, where fire season typically begins earliest.

"This is about getting ahead of conditions before an ignition can become a disaster," a BLM spokesperson said. "We've seen what happens when resources are caught flat-footed early in the season."

Coordination with Other Agencies

The BLM restrictions announced May 14 are part of a broader wave of early-season fire management actions across the Pacific Northwest:

  • Southern Oregon (Jackson and Josephine counties) officially entered fire season May 16 under ODF jurisdiction
  • Central Oregon's Deschutes National Forest, Ochoco National Forest, Crooked River National Grassland, and Prineville BLM District entered Stage 1 public use fire restrictions on May 18
  • Additional National Forest and state forestry restrictions are expected to roll out across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho as summer approaches

What Visitors and Landowners Should Do

BLM officials urge anyone planning to visit public lands this spring and summer to take the following steps:

  • Check current fire restrictions before departure at blm.gov/orwafire
  • Avoid using any prohibited devices listed in the restrictions order
  • Keep campfires small and never leave them unattended
  • Ensure fires are completely extinguished — cold to the touch — before leaving a site
  • Report smoke or fire immediately by calling 911

Violating fire restrictions on federal lands can result in fines and criminal penalties. With conditions already running well ahead of a typical fire year, land managers are counting on public cooperation to prevent human-caused ignitions from becoming the summer's next major incident.