As the mercury climbs toward triple digits this week across Jefferson County, land managers and fire officials are reminding residents and visitors that fire restrictions are in place throughout the region — and that the risk of a human-caused wildfire igniting in these conditions is very real.
The Ochoco National Forest, Crooked River National Grassland, and the Prineville District Bureau of Land Management are all operating under Stage 1 Public Use Fire Restrictions. These restrictions have been in place since mid-June and remain active as of this week.
What Stage 1 Means for You
Under Stage 1 restrictions, the following are prohibited on affected federal public lands:
- Open fires of any kind, including wood campfires, charcoal briquette fires, and wood stoves — except within designated developed campgrounds
- Smoking except within an enclosed vehicle or building, at a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter cleared of all flammable materials
- Operating or using any internal combustion engine without a USDA-approved spark-arresting device
- Welding or operating acetylene or other torch with an open flame
- Using an exploding target or tracer ammunition
Propane stoves and gas camp stoves are generally permitted under Stage 1, though campers should always confirm with the local ranger district before their trip. Travel restrictions may also limit access to unmaintained two-track roads where dry roadside vegetation poses an ignition risk.
County Burn Ban Still in Effect
Jefferson County’s own open burning ban has been in effect since sunset on May 3, 2026, when the county declared a halt to all open burning due to drying fuels and forecasted weather conditions. That ban covers private lands county-wide and remains in effect.
The 2026 fire season for Oregon Department of Forestry was officially declared effective May 8, 2026, and will remain active until the State Forester issues a termination order — typically not until fall rains have arrived.
Why the Risk Is High
This week’s forecast is a reminder of why those restrictions exist. Warm Springs is forecast to reach 98°F Monday and 99°F Tuesday, with evening breezes developing — a classic setup for rapid fire spread if ignition occurs. Fuels across the high desert and ponderosa pine country east of the Cascades are critically dry after a winter with well-below-normal snowpack and record warm temperatures.
Approximately 60% of wildfires on Central Oregon public lands are caused by humans. Officials say even a single spark from a campfire, a vehicle driving through dry grass, or a discarded cigarette can set off a fire that spreads for thousands of acres.
Stay Informed
Residents and visitors can check current fire restrictions before heading out:
- Central Oregon Fire Information: centraloregonfire.org
- Oregon Department of Forestry restrictions map: oregon.gov/odf
- Ochoco National Forest: fs.usda.gov/ochoco
- Fire reporting: Call 911 for any active fire
"Though we understand the joy of sitting around a campfire," the Forest Service wrote in a recent reminder, "we hope everyone wants to enjoy and protect the forest for future adventures, rather than being the reason the forest and the adventures are gone."