Fire season is underway in Jefferson County and across Central Oregon, with state forestry officials already implementing restrictions in response to high fire danger conditions.

Fire Season Declared

The Oregon Department of Forestry officially declared the 2026 Fire Season in effect beginning at 12:01 a.m. on May 8, 2026. The declaration activates additional powers for the State Forester to manage and respond to wildfire threats across Oregon.

Regulated Use Closure Now Active

Effective May 18, 2026, the ODF Prineville Unit — which covers much of Jefferson County's forested and range lands — along with the Fossil Sub-Unit and Sisters Sub-Unit, entered a Regulated Use Closure.

Under a Regulated Use Closure, the following activities are restricted on ODF-protected lands:

  • Campfires: Prohibited on ODF-protected lands outside of designated improved sites
  • Smoking: Permitted only inside an enclosed vehicle or building, at a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area cleared of flammable materials
  • Chainsaw and power equipment use: May be restricted; check current rules before operating
  • Off-highway vehicles: Restricted to roads and trails; no off-trail travel on ODF lands

The closure remains in effect until terminated by the State Forester.

Why Jefferson County Is Especially Vulnerable

Jefferson County's landscape — juniper and sagebrush range east of the Cascades blending into denser timber near Camp Sherman — creates a patchwork of high fire-risk areas. The June 1 Jordan Fire near Lake Billy Chinook was an early reminder of how quickly conditions can escalate.

Last summer's Cram Fire, which burned more than 95,000 acres across Jefferson, Wasco, and Crook counties, destroying multiple homes and dozens of outbuildings in the Ashwood area, remains fresh in local memory.

What You Can Do Now

Emergency managers recommend Jefferson County residents take these steps before fire season intensifies:

  • Create and maintain defensible space — 30 feet of cleared area around structures
  • Sign up for Jefferson County emergency alerts at jeffco.net
  • Download the Watch Duty app for real-time fire tracking
  • Keep a go-bag packed with essentials for 72 hours
  • Know your evacuation zone and two exit routes
  • Check current fire restrictions at oregon.gov/odf before any outdoor activity

With June temperatures already above average and the region entering the historically most dangerous fire months, residents in wildland-urban interface communities — including Crooked River Ranch, Camp Sherman, Ashwood, and Culver — are urged to remain vigilant.