Oregon declares statewide fire season, urges public preparedness and new firefighter health protections

The Oregon Department of Forestry announced that, as of June 15, all of the state's districts are officially in fire season, prompting fire restrictions and a call for residents to practice wildfire prevention. The agency highlighted measures such as bans on campfires in many areas, restrictions on fireworks, and the need for proper debris‑burn permits.

In Deschutes County, the sheriff’s office reminded residents to familiarize themselves with the three emergency evacuation levels—Level 1 (Be Ready), Level 2 (Be Set), and Level 3 (Go Now)—and to sign up for the county’s Deschutes Alerts system for real‑time notifications of wildfires and other emergencies.

The U.S. Forest Service, together with the Department of the Interior, introduced health‑safety steps for federal wildland firefighters for the 2026 fire season, including expanded access to N95 respirators, mandatory training on their use, and standardized decontamination protocols such as gear cleaning and on‑site showers to reduce long‑term smoke exposure.