Beginning Monday, May 18, 2026 at 12:01 a.m., Central Oregon public lands will move into Stage 1 Public Use Fire Restrictions, agency officials announced May 15. The restrictions apply to the Deschutes National Forest, Ochoco National Forest, Crooked River National Grassland, and the Prineville District Bureau of Land Management.

What Stage 1 Restrictions Mean

Stage 1 restrictions prohibit open fires on affected public lands. This includes campfires, charcoal briquette fires, and wood stoves used outdoors. The restrictions are being implemented in response to recent weather patterns featuring above-average temperatures, low relative humidity, and predicted winds — conditions that significantly elevate the risk of human-caused wildfire.

Exempted Areas and Designated Campgrounds

Campfires are still permitted in designated developed campgrounds within the restriction area, including numerous sites across the Deschutes National Forest, Ochoco National Forest, and Prineville BLM. Fires are also allowed within Deschutes National Forest Wilderness areas, including the Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, Three Sisters, Diamond Peak, and Mt. Thielsen Wildernesses.

Key campgrounds where campfires remain permitted include:

  • Deschutes National Forest: Crane Prairie, East Lake, Paulina Lake, Elk Lake, Cultus Lake, Fall River, and many others in the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District
  • Ochoco National Forest: Walton Lake, Ochoco Divide, Antelope Flat Reservoir, and others
  • Prineville BLM: Castle Rock, Chimney Rock, Cobble Rock, Lone Pine, Palisades, and Poison Butte campgrounds
  • Crooked River National Grassland: Haystack Reservoir and Skull Hollow campgrounds

Why Restrictions Are Starting Early

Fire managers cite several converging factors behind the early start to restrictions. Above-average temperatures have stressed vegetation and lowered moisture content in grasses and brush. The Pine Mountain Fire — which recently burned 2,589 acres after escaping a prescribed burn on May 7 — demonstrated how quickly conditions can deteriorate even in spring.

Forecasters at the National Weather Service and NIFC have flagged below-normal precipitation and above-normal temperatures for the region through May and June, and snowpack across Central Oregon is well below historical averages.

Penalties and Compliance

Violations of Stage 1 restrictions on federal lands can result in fines and criminal penalties. Residents and visitors are encouraged to check the specific restrictions applicable to the land they plan to visit, as restrictions may vary by jurisdiction. Up-to-date restriction information is available at centraloregonfire.org and each agency's website.