Fire danger decreasing to high, IFPL dropping to Level 2 in Jackson and Josephine counties

 

JACKSON AND JOSEPHINE COUNTIES, Ore. – Following recent light rainfall and a trend of cooler temperatures, including continued lower overnight temperatures, the fire danger level on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District in Jackson and Josephine counties is decreasing from “extreme” (red) to “high” (yellow), effective immediately on September 2, 2026. The Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) is also decreasing from Level 3 (three) to Level 2 (two).

 

This change affects 1.8 million acres of state, private, county and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands in Jackson and Josephine counties.

 

The recent change in weather has helped ease fire conditions across the district. However, fire season remains in effect, and restrictions remain in place, including the prohibition on outdoor debris burning. Vegetation can dry quickly following rainfall, and fires remain very possible. The public is asked to continue following all current fire prevention regulations and use caution when working outdoors.

 

The primary difference between current fire prevention restrictions and the updated restrictions affects the public use of power-driven equipment, such as chainsaws, mowers, weed eaters and more. The use of power-driven equipment, grinding, cutting of metal and other spark-emitting equipment, such as wood splitters and generators, will now be allowed until 10 a.m. and after 8 p.m. daily. Mowing green, irrigated lawns is allowed at any time.

 

Other fire prevention regulations that remain in effect include:

 

• No debris burning, including piles and debris burned in burn barrels.

 

• No fireworks on or within 1/8th of a mile of ODF-protected land. Fireworks are prohibited on all BLM land.

 

• Exploding targets and tracer ammunition, or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base, are prohibited.

 

• Campfires are allowed only in designated campgrounds. Portable stoves or fire pits using liquefied or bottled fuels may be used in other locations that are clear of dry vegetation.

 

• Motorized vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, are allowed only on improved roads; one shovel and one gallon of water, or one 2.5-pound or larger fire extinguisher, is required while traveling.

 

• Smoking while traveling is allowed only in enclosed vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water and in other specifically designated locations.

 

• Chainsaws, including equipment using string or metal blades, may not be used between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. During hours outside of this time frame, this equipment may be used, but requires the operator to have one shovel and one 8-ounce or larger fire extinguisher at the work site. A fire watch is also required for one hour after use.

 

• Cutting, grinding and welding of metal is not allowed between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. These activities are allowed during hours outside of this time frame only if the work site is cleared of potentially flammable vegetation and other materials, and a water supply is available at the job site.

 

• Mowing dead or dried grass with power-driven equipment is not allowed between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. This includes equipment powered by gas, electricity or batteries. This restriction does not include mowing green, irrigated lawns or equipment used for the commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops.

 

• Any other spark-emitting internal combustion engine use not specifically mentioned is not allowed between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Use is allowed outside of this time frame only if the work site is cleared of potentially flammable vegetation and other materials, and a water supply is available at the job site.

 

• Electric fence controllers must be approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories Inc., or certified by the Department of Consumer and Business Services, and installed and used in compliance with the controller’s instructions for fire-safe operation.

 

For industrial operations, under IFPL II (Two) – limited shutdown, which is entirely separate from all public fire restrictions, the following may operate after 8 p.m. and up until 1 p.m. Daily:

 

• Power saws, except at loading sites

 

• Feller-bunchers with rotary head saws

 

• Cable yarding

 

• Blasting

 

• Welding, cutting, or grinding of metal

 

Fire season remains in effect, and all other restrictions remain in place. Conditions will continue to be monitored and restrictions may change as fire conditions change.

 

For more information about the Oregon Department of Forestry’s fire season restrictions, please call or visit the Southwest Oregon District unit office nearest to you:

Medford Unit, 5286 Table Rock Rd., Central Point. (541) 664-3328

Grants Pass Unit, 5375 Monument Dr., Grants Pass. (541) 474-3152

Fire season information is also available online at our Facebook page, @ODFSouthwest, and our website, https://link.edgepilot.com/x/EC-iUD0ltWDcMjPSNdmLfQ?u=http://www.swofire.com/.