Fire Danger Levels

Southwest Oregon District Fire Danger Levels

JACKSON & JOSEPHINE COUNTIES, Ore. – Due to dry vegetation, fire behavior, and consistent hot and windy conditions, the fire danger level on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry in Jackson and Josephine counties will increase to “extreme” (red) at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, August 12, 2025. These regulations impact 1.8 million acres of state, private,
county, city and Bureau of Land Management lands protected by ODF’s Southwest Oregon District.

The Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) will remain at two (2).

Beginning Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at 12:01 a.m., the following public fire restrictions will take effect:

• 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. This includes lawnmowers, weed eaters, and any other type of grass-trimming equipment. The mowing of green lawns is allowed at any time.
• 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 the fire danger level drops significantly:

• 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 dry vegetation, portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed.
• Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water, and designated locations.
• Fireworks on or within 1/8th of a mile of ODF-protected land are prohibited. Fireworks are also prohibited on all BLM lands.
• 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.

The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Warning across southern Oregon, in effect now through Wednesday at 2 a.m. due to triple digit temperatures up to 110 degrees. These
conditions, in combination with dry vegetation, naturally promote fire growth. Be aware of the increased risk and prevent fires by following the current regulations, found here:
https://swofire.com/public-fire-restrictions.

For more information about the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District’s fire season regulations, visit website, www.swofire.com or Facebook page ODF Southwest Oregon District.