Fire season in southwest Oregon continues to be extraordinarily hot and dry, and the Oregon Department of Forestry is committed to reducing the number of human-caused fires in forests and other wildland areas in Jackson and Josephine counties.
Releasing sky lanterns during fire season is one activity that is not allowed on ODF-protected lands. Fire season began June 5.
A sky lantern is commonly made of a lighted candle suspended beneath a plastic bag. The heat rising from the candle inflates the bag, which floats away and eventually returns to earth. If the lighted candle comes in contact with dry vegetation, a wildfire is likely to start.
The Oregon Department of Forestry’s Southwest Oregon District protects 1.8 million acres of state, private, county, and Bureau of Land Management lands in Jackson and Josephine counties. Fire season regulations also apply in county, state and BLM day-use areas and campgrounds.
For more information about the Oregon Department of Forestry’s fire season regulations, please call or visit the Southwest Oregon District unit office nearest to you:
- Medford Unit, 5286 Table Rock Rd., Central Point. (541) 664-3328
- Grants Pass Unit, 5375 Monument Dr., Grants Pass. (541) 474-3152