Oregon Wildlife Agency Closes Northeast Access Lands Due to Fire Danger

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) has closed all Access and Habitat (A&H) areas in northeast Oregon because of extreme fire danger and insufficient firefighting resources. The closures include M. R. King Ranches, Troy Ranches, Iron Mountain, Virtue Flat, Foster Ranch, Glass Hill, Owsley Canyon, Bear Creek, Carman Ranch, Harshfield Ranch, Divide Ridge, Heppner Regulated Hunt Area, Social Ridge, Four Mile and Bunker Hill, as well as Upland Cooperative Access Program lands.

ODFW said national and Northwest fire‑preparedness levels remain at Level 5, with very dry fuels and unstable atmospheric conditions that could allow new fires to spread rapidly. The agency expects the closures to remain in place until fire danger decreases and firefighting capacity improves, noting they may affect the start of the archery hunting season on Aug. 29. ODFW coordinator Travis Schultz emphasized the need to protect landowners and preserve the A&H program for future access.