Fire Season Begins Saturday Across DFPA-Protected Lands In Douglas District

The 2026 fire season will officially begin Saturday, May 30, at 12:01 a.m. across lands protected by the Douglas Forest Protective Association.

DFPA said the declaration applies to all private, county, state and Bureau of Indian Affairs lands within the Douglas District. The start of fire season also brings the beginning of public fire restrictions, with the district entering LOW fire danger restrictions at the same time.

The restrictions are intended to reduce the chance of human-caused wildfires as conditions become drier heading into summer.

Public use restrictions for the Umpqua National Forest and the Roseburg District BLM will be assessed and announced separately. DFPA said those restrictions are set by the agencies that manage those lands.

Under the restrictions taking effect Saturday, smoking will be prohibited while traveling, except inside vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water, and at other designated locations. Backyard debris burning, including burn barrels, will also be prohibited.

Open fires, including campfires, cooking fires and warming fires, will not be allowed except at designated sites. DFPA listed designated Douglas County Parks sites as Amacher Park, the Douglas County Fairgrounds, Pass Creek Campground, Stanton Park, Chief Miwaleta Campground and Whistler’s Bend Campground. Private campground sites listed by DFPA include Seven Feathers RV Resort and Umpqua Riverfront RV Park & Boat Ramp.

Charcoal and pellet barbecues will only be allowed at fully developed and maintained residential homesites when used in areas clear of flammable vegetation. A charged garden hose or a fire extinguisher of at least 2 1/2 pounds must be immediately available. Portable cooking stoves that use liquefied or bottled fuels will still be allowed elsewhere.

Fireworks, exploding targets and tracer ammunition will be prohibited. DFPA also reminded the public that sky lanterns are prohibited year-round in Oregon.

Motor vehicles, including motorcycles and ATVs, will only be allowed on improved roads that are free of flammable vegetation. That restriction is waived on private lands during low fire danger or when vehicles are being used for the culture and harvest of agricultural crops.

Vehicles with three or more wheels traveling on forest roads must carry an axe, shovel and one gallon of water, or an operational fire extinguisher of at least 2 1/2 pounds. Motorcycles must carry either one gallon of water or an operational fire extinguisher of at least 2 1/2 pounds.

DFPA said electric fence controllers must be listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory or certified by the Department of Consumer and Business Services, and must be operated according to manufacturer instructions.

Several activities will be allowed all day while the district remains at LOW fire danger, including non-industrial power saw use, cutting or welding metal, mowing dried grass, certain private property improvement work involving power-driven machinery, agricultural vehicle use for livestock care, and fuel-powered generator use in cleared areas.

Those same activities become more limited as fire danger increases. During MODERATE fire danger, many of those activities are limited to before 1 p.m. or after 8 p.m. During HIGH fire danger, many are limited to before 10 a.m. or after 8 p.m. During EXTREME fire danger, several activities are prohibited unless a waiver has been issued.

Power saws must have a shovel and at least an 8-ounce fire extinguisher immediately available, with a one-hour fire watch required after use. Power-driven machinery used for private property improvement must have a shovel and a fire extinguisher of at least 2 1/2 pounds, with a fire watch required for at least one hour after work ends for the day.

Fuel-powered generators may be used all day during LOW fire danger if operated in a cleared area free of flammable vegetation. During higher fire danger levels, time restrictions apply, though residential homesite generator use is exempt from time limits when used in a cleared area. A shovel and fire extinguisher must be immediately available.

The start of fire season also begins industrial fire regulations. DFPA said all lands within the Douglas District will enter Industrial Fire Precaution Level 1, or IFPL I, at 12:01 a.m. Saturday. That applies in regulated use areas DG-1, DG-2, UA-1 and UA-2, along with forestland within one-eighth mile of those areas.

Under IFPL I, smoking is prohibited while working on or traveling through an industrial operation. Industrial operations must also have required fire tools and suppression equipment on site and ready for use, and a fire watch is required after work is completed for the day.

DFPA said additional restrictions or closures may be in place through private industrial landowners or other public land management agencies.

Residents can check the current official fire danger level at www.dfpa.net or by calling DFPA’s 24-hour information line at 541-672-0379. For more information on public and industrial fire restrictions, visit www.dfpa.net/public-fire-restrictions.