Fire danger decreasing to moderate, IFPL remaining at Level 2 in Jackson and Josephine counties

 

JACKSON AND JOSEPHINE COUNTIES, Ore. – Another day of rainfall and unseasonably cool temperatures has prompted a further decrease in fire danger across Jackson and Josephine counties. At 10 a.m. on September 3, 2026, the fire danger level on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District will decrease from “high” (yellow) to “moderate” (blue). The Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) will remain at Level 2 (two).

 

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

 

Continued rainfall throughout the past day, combined with unseasonably cool temperatures in the 60s, has further reduced fire danger across the district. While these conditions have allowed for a decrease to moderate fire danger, fire season remains in effect and vegetation can dry quickly once warmer, drier weather returns. The public should continue to follow all current fire prevention regulations and use caution during outdoor activities. Outdoor debris burning remains prohibited.

 

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 will now be allowed until 1 p.m. and after 8 p.m. daily. Mowing green lawns is allowed at any time.

 

Public fire restrictions under moderate fire danger include:

 

• Open fires are prohibited, which includes campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, except at locations deemed a designated campground.

Portable cooking stoves or firepits using liquefied or bottled fuels are still allowed in areas clear of flammable vegetation.

 

• Chainsaws, including equipment using string or metal blades, may not be used between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. During hours outside of this time frame, this equipment may be used but requires that the operator 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 each use.

 

• Cutting, grinding and welding of metal is not allowed between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. These activities are allowed during hours outside of this time frame only if the work site is a cleared area and a charged garden hose or one 2½-pound or larger fire extinguisher is at the job site.

 

• The mowing of dead or dried grass with power-driven equipment is not allowed between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. This restriction does not include mowing green lawns or equipment used for the commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops.

 

• Motorized vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, are allowed only on improved roads free of flammable vegetation. One shovel and one gallon of water, or one 2½-pound or larger fire extinguisher, is required while traveling. All-terrain vehicles and motorcycles must be equipped with one 2½-pound or larger fire extinguisher.

 

• 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 2½-pound or larger fire extinguisher. All-terrain vehicles and motorcycles must be equipped with one 2½-pound or larger fire extinguisher.

 

• Any other spark-emitting internal combustion engine use not specifically mentioned is not allowed between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. Use of any spark-emitting internal combustion engine is allowed outside of this time frame only if the work site is a cleared area and a charged garden hose or one 2½-pound or larger fire extinguisher is at the job site.

 

Other public fire restrictions that remain in effect include:

 

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

 

• No fireworks on or within one eighth 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.

 

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

 

• Any electric fence controllers must be approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory or be certified by the Department of Consumer and Business Services and be installed and used in compliance with the fence 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 continue in place. Despite the rainfall and decrease in fire danger, outdoor debris burning remains prohibited. 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/pXvIFWLWpgMTuvkhqzW4nA?u=http://www.swofire.com/.