Starting today, Thursday, May 14, the Bureau of Land Management has placed fire restrictions on all BLM-administered lands throughout Oregon and Washington. The new restrictions — announced jointly by the BLM and the U.S. Wildland Fire Service — aim to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires as warmer, drier conditions take hold across the Pacific Northwest.

What Is Prohibited

Under the new restrictions, the following are prohibited on all BLM lands in Oregon and Washington:

  • Fireworks of any kind
  • Exploding targets or metallic targets
  • Steel component ammunition (including steel core or steel jacket)
  • Tracer or incendiary devices
  • Sky lanterns

The restrictions apply to all visitors, recreationists, and public land users. Violators face fines of up to $100,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 12 months. Individuals found responsible for starting wildland fires on federal lands may also be billed for the full cost of suppression efforts.

Officials Sound the Alarm

Jeff Fedrizzi, Assistant Chief of Operations for the U.S. Wildland Fire Service in the Pacific Northwest, issued a stark warning alongside the announcement.

“We are increasingly concerned that 2026 could rival the most extreme years on record for heat and dryness in the Pacific Northwest,” Fedrizzi said. “Every visitor must understand that even one small spark can lead to a costly and destructive fire in these high-impact conditions.”

The U.S. Wildland Fire Service manages wildfire prevention, response, and recovery across Interior Department-administered lands and coordinates closely with federal, state, and tribal land management agencies throughout the region.

Why Now

The early-season restrictions reflect growing concern among fire managers about Oregon and Washington’s conditions heading into summer. Snowpack across the Northwest measured roughly one-third of normal levels this winter — among the lowest on record. Drought conditions have expanded rapidly, with nine Oregon counties already under emergency drought declarations. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has forecast above-normal temperatures and below-average precipitation through at least October.

State fire officials warned this week that above-normal wildfire risk is expected east of the Cascades beginning in June, with risk spreading to southwestern Oregon by July.

Additional Restrictions May Follow

These BLM restrictions are separate from U.S. Forest Service, state, and county fire restrictions, which vary by jurisdiction. Fire managers note that additional restrictions — including campfire bans and area closures — are likely as the season progresses and fuels dry out further.

Residents and visitors can find the latest fire restrictions and closures for BLM lands in Oregon and Washington at www.blm.gov/orwafire.