Campers, hikers, and outdoor recreationists in Central Oregon are now subject to Stage 1 Public Use Fire Restrictions across the region's major public lands, effective May 18 at 12:01 a.m. The restrictions affect the Deschutes National Forest, Ochoco National Forest, Crooked River National Grassland, and the Prineville District Bureau of Land Management.

What the Restrictions Prohibit

Under Stage 1 restrictions, open fires are prohibited on covered public lands. This includes wood stove fires and charcoal briquette fires, in addition to traditional campfires. Land managers cited above-average temperatures, low relative humidity, and predicted gusty winds as the driving factors behind the early implementation this year.

Campfires remain permitted only within:

  • Designated developed campgrounds listed in the order
  • Deschutes National Forest Wilderness areas (Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, Three Sisters, Diamond Peak, and Mt. Thielsen Wildernesses)
  • Specific campgrounds identified in the official fire order on the Prineville BLM District, Ochoco National Forest, Crooked River National Grassland, and Deschutes National Forest

Why Now?

The early implementation of Stage 1 restrictions reflects increasingly dry conditions across Central Oregon. The region experienced a warm, dry spring, with snowpack well below normal and fuel moisture levels dropping faster than in typical years. The Flat Fire, which burned more than 23,000 acres near Sisters before reaching 67 percent containment, served as a stark early-season reminder of how quickly conditions can escalate.

Fire managers from the Deschutes National Forest, Ochoco National Forest, Crooked River National Grassland, and Prineville BLM District worked in coordination to implement the restrictions simultaneously, providing consistent guidance to the public across multiple jurisdictions.

Statewide Context

The Stage 1 restrictions in Central Oregon come on top of earlier actions taken statewide. The Bureau of Land Management implemented fire restrictions for all BLM-administered lands across Oregon and Washington on May 14. Jackson and Josephine counties in Southern Oregon officially entered fire season on May 16, with the Oregon Department of Forestry banning debris burning across 1.8 million acres of protected forestlands in the Southwest Oregon District.

What Visitors Should Know

  • Check current fire restrictions before any trip to public lands at centraloregonfire.org or the applicable agency website
  • Portable stoves using gas, liquid fuel, or gel fuel are allowed under Stage 1 restrictions
  • Smoking is permitted in developed recreation sites or in an enclosed vehicle or building
  • Violations of fire restrictions can result in a fine of up to $5,000 and imprisonment for up to six months
  • If you see a wildfire, call 911 immediately

Stage 2 restrictions, which would further limit activities including chainsaw use and smoking outside enclosed areas, could be implemented if conditions deteriorate further. Fire managers will continue to monitor weather and fuel conditions throughout the season.