Effective 12:01 a.m. on October 17, 2025, the Central Oregon District (COD) of the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) will officially end fire season for all forestlands protected by the district. This includes over 2.3 million acres of private, state, county, municipal, and tribal lands, which includes Hood River, Wasco, Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, Gilliam, Wheeler, Morrow, Grant, and Harney counties.
This fire season statistically was an average fire season by the numbers but nowhere near average regarding response. For example:
- ODF Central Oregon District was one of the first to respond to the Rowena Fire, the first large fire of the 2025 season in Oregon, which burned 3,700 acres just outside of The Dalles;
- ODF Central Oregon District assisted federal partners with the Cram Fire, which grew roughly 20,000-acres each day for a week, and;
- ODF Central Oregon District responded to the Flat Fire where wildland and structural firefighters saved 827 residences within the fire perimeter.
“This fire season showed the endurance and dedication of our Central Oregon ODF firefighters,” said Rob Pentzer, ODF Central Oregon District Forester. “There were several times where our firefighters were working two to three weeks straight alternating between extended and initial attack duties to protect Oregon communities.”
With the conclusion of fire season, landowners under ODF protection may resume burning residential yard debris and using burn barrels. However, this change does not relieve anyone of their legal responsibility to burn safely and responsibly.
Burning & Smoke Management Guidelines
- Residential Burning (Yard Debris/Burn Barrels): A burn permit is required outside of fire season on lands protected by ODF’s Prineville/Sisters Unit and The Dalles Unit, but not in the John Day/Fossil Unit.
If you are within a fire department’s protection area, check with them directly about current restrictions and permit requirements.Call your local district to validate that the burn ban has been lifted in your area.
- Slash Burning (Forestry/Logging): Burning of slash from forestry operations requires a Notification of Operation/PDM, as well as checking the smoke management weather forecast:
- Call your local ODF office below
- Visit: ODF Smoke Management Forecast
ODF’s Central Oregon District sincerely thanks landowners, forest operators, the public, and interagency partners for their support in fire prevention, detection, and suppression throughout the 2025 fire season.
For more information, contact your local ODF office:
- Prineville/Sisters Unit: 541-447-5658
- The Dalles Unit: 541-296-4626
- John Day/ Fossil Unit: 541-575-1139
For more information on the Central Oregon District and fire season regulations, visit https://odfcentraloregon.com/. To report a fire, please call 911.