The change in restrictions will affect ODF Southwest Oregon District protected lands
JACKSON & JOSEPHINE COUNTIES, Ore. (August 3, 2026) – The Oregon Department of Forestry’s Southwest Oregon District will increase the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) to Level 3 (three) effective 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. The Fire Danger Level will remain at Extreme (Red).
The change is due to critically dry fuels, numerous recent fire responses across southwest Oregon, and a forecast of above-normal temperatures, low relative humidity, and gusty winds this week, resulting in multiple Red Flag Warnings being issued. High temperatures are expected to exceed 100 degrees in many locations, increasing the potential for new fire starts and rapid fire growth. These regulations apply to the 1.8 million acres of state, private, county, city, and Bureau of Land Management lands protected by ODF’s Southwest Oregon District.
Current public use restrictions remain unchanged under the Extreme Fire Danger Level and include:
- The use of power saws is prohibited, excluding electric chainsaws.
• The cutting, grinding and welding of metal is prohibited.
• The mowing of dry or dead grass is prohibited.
• The operation of any other spark-emitting internal combustion engine not specifically mentioned above is prohibited.
The following fire prevention regulations are currently in effect and will remain in effect until fire danger level drops significantly:
- Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water, and designated locations.
• Debris burning, including the use of burn barrels, is prohibited.
• Open fires are prohibited, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, except in approved fire rings at designated campgrounds. In other locations clear of vegetation, portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed.
• Fireworks on or within one-eighth mile of ODF-protected land are prohibited.
• Any electric fence controller in use shall be listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory or be certified by the Department of Consumer and Business Services and operated in compliance with the manufacturer’s fire-safe instructions.
• The use of exploding targets is prohibited.
• The use of tracer ammunition or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base is prohibited.
• Motor vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, may only be used on improved roads free of flammable vegetation, except when used for the commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops.
• Possession of the following firefighting equipment is required while traveling, except on state highways, county roads and driveways: one shovel and one gallon of water or one 2.5-pound or larger fire extinguisher. All-terrain vehicles and motorcycles must be equipped with one 2.5-pound or larger fire extinguisher.
Under IFPL Level 3, the following are prohibited between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.:
- Power saws at loading sites.
• Loading or hauling of any product or material.
• Blasting.
• Welding, cutting or grinding of metal.
• Any other spark-emitting operation not specifically mentioned.
In addition, the following are permitted to operate between 8:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m., provided mechanized equipment capable of constructing fireline is immediately available to quickly reach and effectively attack a fire start:
- Ground-based operations (tractor/skidder, feller-buncher, forwarder or shovel logging operations).
• Power saws on ground-based operations.
• Rotary head saw feller-bunchers with a continuous Firewatch.
• Non-rotary head saw feller-bunchers.
• Tethered logging systems, including winch-assisted, cable-assisted and traction-assisted harvesting operations.
The following activities are not permitted at any time, except as noted:
- Cable yarding systems, except gravity-operated logging systems using non-motorized carriages or approved motorized carriages may operate between 8:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m., when all blocks and moving lines are suspended at least 10 feet above the ground, except the line between the carriage and the chokers.
In addition, pursuant to ORS 477.665 and OAR 629-043-0030, the Firewatch requirement for IFPL Level 3 is reduced from a minimum of three hours to a minimum of two hours during breaks and at the end of the operating period.
For more information about fire season restrictions in the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District, visit www.swofire.com or follow ODF Southwest Oregon District on Facebook.