Residents and visitors heading into Central Oregon’s public lands this summer need to know: fire danger is currently rated EXTREME across the region, and Stage 1 Public Use Fire Restrictions are in effect on federal lands including those that surround Jefferson County.

The restrictions apply to the Deschutes National Forest, Ochoco National Forest, Crooked River National Grassland, and the Prineville District Bureau of Land Management lands. The 2026 Oregon fire season officially began May 8 under a state declaration.

What Stage 1 Restrictions Prohibit

Under Stage 1 restrictions, the following are prohibited on affected public lands:

  • Open fires of any kind, including wood campfires, wood stoves, and charcoal fires (except in designated campgrounds and within the five designated Wilderness areas on the Deschutes National Forest)
  • Smoking except inside a vehicle, building, or a cleared area at least three feet in diameter
  • Driving or parking on dry grass
  • Operating equipment with internal combustion engines — specifically chainsaws and portable generators — between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Fireworks and pyrotechnic devices are always prohibited on National Forest lands in Central Oregon and are currently prohibited on BLM-administered lands as well.

Extreme Danger Means Fast-Moving Fires

Extreme fire danger means that any new fire start is highly likely to spread rapidly before firefighters can respond. Dry grass, low humidity, and hot temperatures across Jefferson County and surrounding areas have created conditions where a single spark can become a large fire within minutes.

Jefferson County sits in one of the most fire-prone regions of Oregon. The Cram Fire of 2025, which burned nearly 96,000 acres in Jefferson, Crook, and Wasco counties and destroyed multiple structures, remains a stark reminder of what fire season can bring.

What You Can Do

Residents and visitors can help prevent the next major fire by:

  • Never parking vehicles on dry grass — catalytic converters can ignite vegetation
  • Checking fire restriction status before camping or recreating on public lands
  • Calling 9-1-1 immediately to report any new smoke or fire
  • Getting real-time information at centraloregonfire.org or by calling 1-800-523-4737

For smoke and air quality conditions, visit fire.airnow.gov.