The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Central Oregon District announced that fire season will officially end at 12:01 a.m. on November 4. The district, which oversees more than 2.1 million acres of private, state, county, municipal and tribal lands across Hood River, Wasco, Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, Lake, Gilliam, Wheeler, Umatilla, Grant and Harney counties, is now allowing landowners to resume residential yard‑debris burning and the use of burn barrels, provided they follow the applicable local regulations.

Season recap and notable fires

From July 15 to July 24, lightning sparked over 140 fires throughout the district. Initial attack crews contained dozens of small ignitions while larger incidents, such as the Akawa Butte Fire and the Rowe Creek Complex, required extended response. The Dalles Unit successfully halted the Upper 8 Mile Fire at about 500 acres early in the season, and the Monument Unit contained the 722‑acre Cottonwood Fire on Aug. 6, establishing a fire line around its perimeter within the first 12 hours.

Forester’s remarks

Rob Pentzer, forester for the Central Oregon District, praised the teamwork that helped protect the region’s natural resources. “First and foremost, I would like to thank our firefighters and support personnel. Your dedication to protecting Oregon’s natural resources and communities is admirable,” Pentzer said. “This was an arduous season for the district, but we made it through with the support of our local, state, federal partners and our landowners.”

What the end of fire season means for residents

While the season’s close lifts the blanket ban on residential burning, specific permit rules remain in place depending on the unit:

• Burn permits are still required on lands managed by the Prineville/Sisters Unit and The Dalles Unit.
• No permit is needed for burns in the John Day/Fossil Unit.
• Forestry and logging slash burning continues to require a Notification of Operation/PDM and approval based on the state smoke‑management forecast.

Landowners in areas protected by local fire departments should verify any remaining burn bans or permit requirements directly with their fire department.

Contact information

For questions about burn regulations, residents can reach the appropriate ODF unit:

• Prineville/Sisters Unit: 541‑447‑5658
• The Dalles Unit: 541‑296‑4626
• John Day/Fossil Unit: 541‑575‑1139

The ODF encourages all landowners to burn responsibly, follow smoke‑management guidelines, and stay informed of any local fire‑department advisories.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.