Skip to main content

ODF News Release: Fire Season and Regulated Use go into effect June 1

Fire Season on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Southwest Oregon District begins Saturday, June 1, at 12:01 a.m. The fire danger level will be “Low” (green) and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) will be 1 (one). Lands affected by this declaration include state, private, county, city and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) forestlands in Jackson and Josephine counties.

The recent weather patterns are changing from frequent rain to more sun exposure, and thunderstorm potentials have been predicted this week. Due to the weather outlook and current conditions, Fire Season is being declared.

Beginning Saturday, the burning of debris piles and the use of burn barrels for burning debris will no longer be allowed in Jackson and Josephine counties. Over the past couple of weeks, our crews have responded to multiple debris burns that have escaped; landowners are encouraged to check their previously burned piles from this spring and confirm that they have been extinguished.  
Other Fire Season restrictions include prohibiting the use of exploding targets and tracer ammunition. 

This year, when we enter Low Fire Danger on Saturday, additional public use restrictions will take effect that prohibit the use of fireworks on or within a 1/8 of a mile of forestlands or the use of non-approved electric fence controller. Other activities such as the mowing of dry grass or the use of motorized power equipment will be regulated using the Fire Danger level as defined in the Regulated Use Proclamation, and allowed anytime while the District is in Low Fire Danger level.    

For more information about the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Fire Season regulations, please call or visit the Southwest Oregon District unit office nearest to you:

·         Medford Unit, 5286 Table Rock Rd., Central Point. (541) 664-3328
·         Grants Pass Unit, 5375 Monument Dr., Grants Pass. (541) 474-3152
Fire season information is also available online at our Facebook page: @ODFSouthwest and our website: www.swofire.com.