MEDFORD, Ore. (Jun. 18, 2026) — Fire officials are raising the fire danger level to High across much of Southern Oregon beginning Friday as hot temperatures, increasingly dry vegetation, and elevated wildfire potential continue to develop across the Rogue Valley and surrounding areas.
The Oregon Department of Forestry’s Southwest Oregon District announced the increase Thursday, affecting approximately 1.8 million acres of state, private, county, city, and Bureau of Land Management-protected lands in Jackson and Josephine counties.
The move comes amid a stretch of warm and dry weather that has rapidly cured grasses and other fine fuels across the region. Fire managers say conditions now support faster fire growth and increase the likelihood that a small spark could quickly become a significant wildfire.
“With temperatures rising and fuels continuing to dry out, we are seeing fire conditions become more favorable for rapid fire spread,” ODF officials said in announcing the change.
The increase to High Fire Danger follows an earlier move from Low to Moderate and reflects what fire agencies describe as a seasonal transition into more critical wildfire conditions.
Under High Fire Danger restrictions, the public should expect additional limitations on activities that could ignite fires. Power-driven equipment such as chainsaws, weed trimmers, mowers, generators, and other spark-producing tools may only be operated during designated hours. Industrial operators working on forestlands will also face increased restrictions under the Industrial Fire Precaution Level system.
Fire officials emphasize that human-caused fires remain the leading cause of wildfire starts in Southern Oregon. Activities that may seem routine—including mowing dry grass, dragging trailer chains, parking vehicles in tall vegetation, or using equipment that generates sparks—can quickly ignite a wildfire during periods of elevated fire danger.
The announcement comes as Oregon enters what state officials expect could be another challenging wildfire season. Earlier this week, Governor Tina Kotek declared a statewide emergency due to the imminent threat of wildfire, citing increasing temperatures, dry fuels, and shifting winds that are creating dangerous conditions across much of Oregon.
Southern Oregon has already experienced several vegetation fires this season, including recent incidents in Jackson County that required rapid responses from local fire agencies. While most have been contained quickly, fire officials warn that the window for successful initial attack becomes smaller as fuels continue to dry and weather conditions become more favorable for fire growth.
According to ODF, fire danger levels are determined using a combination of weather forecasts, fuel moisture measurements, fire behavior indicators, and long-term drought conditions. The High designation signifies that fires can start easily, spread rapidly, and become difficult to control if not caught early.
Residents are urged to remain vigilant, follow all fire restrictions, and report any signs of smoke or wildfire immediately. Fire officials also encourage homeowners to take steps to create defensible space around structures by removing dry vegetation, cleaning roofs and gutters, and preparing emergency evacuation plans.
The High Fire Danger designation takes effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday and will remain in place until conditions improve or fire managers determine additional restrictions are necessary.
Current fire restrictions and updates can be found through the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District and local fire agencies throughout Jackson and Josephine counties.
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