Fire season officially began Friday, May 16 in Jackson and Josephine counties in Southern Oregon, as the Oregon Department of Forestry declared new restrictions across 1.8 million acres of protected forestlands managed by the agency's Southwest Oregon District. The early declaration reflects drought conditions, minimal snowpack, and an unusually dry spring that has left vegetation drier and more fire-prone than in a typical year.

What the Declaration Means

With the start of fire season in the Southwest Oregon District, debris burning is no longer permitted on any lands under ODF protection. Additional prohibitions now in effect include:

  • Fireworks of any kind on or within one-eighth of a mile of protected forestlands
  • Exploding targets and tracer ammunition in the same proximity
  • Open burning of land-clearing debris, brush piles, and slash

Campfires remain allowed in designated campgrounds, on Bureau of Land Management land, and on private property with landowner permission. Anyone with a campfire must keep water and a shovel or a fire extinguisher nearby and ensure the fire is fully extinguished before leaving.

Conditions Driving the Early Season

The ODF cited drought conditions, dry vegetation, and minimal snowpack as the primary drivers of the early fire season declaration. Southern Oregon saw a warm, dry winter and spring, with the mountains receiving below-average precipitation and snowpack melting out well ahead of schedule. Fuels across the region — grasses, shrubs, and forest understory — are drying faster than normal, increasing the potential for ignition and rapid fire spread.

"Fire danger will begin at 'low,'" ODF officials said in the announcement, "but wildfire risk is expected to increase as conditions continue drying out heading into summer." Historically, fire danger in Jackson and Josephine counties typically peaks in July and August, but conditions this year suggest an earlier and potentially more severe arc.

The Bigger Picture for Southwest Oregon

Jackson and Josephine counties are no strangers to destructive wildfire. The region was heavily impacted by the 2020 Almeda Drive Fire, which devastated the communities of Talent, Phoenix, and portions of Medford. Southern Oregon also lies within the broader Rogue Valley corridor, where drying east winds can rapidly drive fires from forested slopes down into populated areas.

The National Interagency Fire Center's 2026 seasonal outlook highlighted above-normal fire potential for much of Oregon beginning in May, with the greatest concern in eastern and southern parts of the state where drought has been most persistent.

Preparedness Tips for Residents

  • Create defensible space around your home — clear dry vegetation within at least 30 feet
  • Sign up for Jackson County Emergency Communications (JCEC) or Josephine County alerts
  • Know your evacuation zone and have a go-bag ready
  • Check ODF fire restrictions before any outdoor burning or recreation
  • Report fires immediately — call 911 or use the Watch Duty or NIFC apps