Fire Danger Level Rising to “Extreme” in Rogue Valley

Medford, Oregon– The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) has announced an increase in the fire danger level to “extreme” (red) in Jackson and Josephine counties, effective at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. This change is due to dry vegetation, hot conditions, and numerous active fires in the region.

This decision impacts 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 level two.

Starting Tuesday morning, the following public fire restrictions will be enforced:

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.

Current fire prevention regulations that will remain in effect include:

Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads, 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. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed in other locations clear of vegetation.
Fireworks are prohibited on or within 1/8th of a mile of ODF-protected land and on all BLM lands.
Electric fence controllers in use must be listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory or 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 and 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.

For more information about the Oregon Department of Forestry’s fire season regulations, please contact the nearest Southwest Oregon District unit office: