Central Oregon National Forests and Prineville BLM to Begin Public Use Restrictions

The USDA Deschutes National Forest announced open fire restrictions today with fires permitted ONLY IN APPROVED campgrounds. Here is the notice.

Following a warm and dry spring, drought is emerging and expanding across much of the west, and Central Oregon is expecting warmer and drier than average conditions this summer. At the same time, as many facilities and areas are closed or allowing a limited number of visitors due to COVID-19 response measures, a higher than normal number of people are using public lands for recreation. To reduce the number of preventable wildfires, the Prineville District Bureau of Land Management, the Deschutes National Forest and the Ochoco National Forest, and the Crooked River National Grassland, are implementing public use restrictions.

Effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, June 26, open fires, including wood stoves and charcoal briquette fires, will be prohibited, except in designated campgrounds: See Designated Campgrounds HERE. 

 72 total views