Central Oregon fire managers dropped Public Use Fire Restrictions from Stage 2 to Stage 1 effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, September 5 — just ahead of the Labor Day weekend — citing increased moisture and a stretch of cooler temperatures that has eased fire danger across the region.
The change affects lands managed by the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests, Crooked River National Grassland, and the Prineville District Bureau of Land Management. Under Stage 1 restrictions, open fires including wood stoves and charcoal briquette fires remain prohibited on most public lands — but campfire rings are now permitted at a list of designated campgrounds that spans the region, including Skull Hollow Campground on the Crooked River National Grassland and sites throughout the Ochoco National Forest near Madras and Prineville.
What Stage 1 Means for You
Stage 1 is a significant step down from Stage 2, which banned virtually all outdoor fires on public lands. Under the new level, campers at designated campgrounds may use established fire rings. Portable camp stoves using liquid fuel or propane remain allowed throughout public lands even outside designated sites.
Still prohibited under Stage 1: igniting or using any device capable of throwing or emitting a spark, flame, or fire outside of designated areas; smoking except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter cleared of all flammable materials; and operating a chainsaw or other equipment within two hours of sunset.
Deschutes Wilderness Areas Remain Restricted
One notable exception: designated wilderness areas within the Deschutes National Forest are excluded from the Stage 1 reduction and remain under Stage 2 restrictions. Hikers and backpackers headed into the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness — which borders Jefferson County to the west — should check current conditions before their trip.
A Wet Stretch Changes the Outlook
Fire managers credited an early September weather pattern bringing cooler days and measurable precipitation for allowing the easing of restrictions. While Oregon as a whole remains in its 2026 fire season with active fires burning in other parts of the state, Central Oregon has benefited from a more favorable stretch compared to the peak of summer.
Jefferson County residents and visitors using public lands around the Crooked River Ranch area, Haystack Reservoir, and the Ochoco backcountry should check the Central Oregon Fire Information website at centraloregonfire.org for the most current campground list and any updates before heading out.
Tips for a Safe Labor Day Weekend
- Confirm your campground is on the approved Stage 1 list before building a fire
- Keep fires small and attended at all times
- Have a bucket of water and a shovel nearby
- Fully extinguish fires — cold to the touch — before leaving a site or going to sleep
- Check the Oregon Department of Forestry burn permit requirements for private land
Fire danger can change quickly with Labor Day weekend winds. Campers and recreationists are encouraged to stay informed and be ready to adapt plans if conditions deteriorate.