If you were planning a campfire on public lands this weekend, think again. Fire officials across Central Oregon have moved fast this spring — restrictions that typically don't arrive until mid-June or July are already in effect.

Stage 1 public use fire restrictions went into place on May 18 across the Deschutes National Forest, Ochoco National Forest, Crooked River National Grassland, and the Prineville District Bureau of Land Management. The restrictions ban open fires including wood stoves and charcoal briquette fires outside of designated campground fire pits. Off-road driving and smoking on public lands are also prohibited under Stage 1.

On Friday, May 30 at 12:01 a.m., Oregon's official 2026 fire season begins statewide — bringing additional restrictions and increased enforcement across the region.

Why So Early?

"Things are dry. We've had an unusually warm spring," said Suzannah Burke, a representative for the BLM Prineville District. "Conditions are more favorable earlier than they were last year. And we've seen more fire activity earlier than we did last year."

Jeff Fedrizzi, assistant chief of operations for the U.S. Wildland Fire Service in the Pacific Northwest, put it in stark terms: "We are increasingly concerned that 2026 could rival the most extreme years on record for heat and dryness in the Pacific Northwest."

AccuWeather's 2026 wildfire forecast echoes that concern, predicting that while the total number of ignitions may be lower than some recent years, drought conditions and dry vegetation could cause fires to spread more rapidly and burn more acreage before crews can contain them.

What's Still Allowed

  • Campfires in designated campground fire pits remain permitted
  • Liquid-fueled and pressurized camp stoves are allowed across all public lands
  • Propane fire pits and gas stoves remain permitted

A Warning Sign Earlier This Month

The urgency behind these early restrictions isn't hypothetical. Earlier in May, a prescribed burn near Pine Mountain escaped its planned boundaries and burned just over 2,500 acres — a sobering reminder of how quickly conditions can escalate even in managed situations.

Residents near the Crooked River Ranch, Camp Sherman, Lake Billy Chinook, and along the Deschutes River corridor should be particularly vigilant. BLM river corridor restrictions have been in effect since May 13 along sections of the Crooked, Deschutes, John Day, and White Rivers, and around Lake Simtustus and Lake Billy Chinook.

For current fire restriction levels and interactive maps, visit centraloregonfire.org.