New Fire Restrictions In Klamath County go into place on Monday June 16th, 2025
As of Monday, June 16, the Central Oregon District of the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) will elevate its fire danger level to high, based on rising temperatures and rapidly drying vegetation. To address these conditions, ODF is implementing additional fire prevention rules.
Key Restrictions Starting June 16 ktvz.com:
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Smoking is banned while traveling outside of enclosed vehicles on maintained roads.
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Open fires—including campfires, charcoal, cooking, and warming fires—are banned except in designated sites. On approved portable equipment (e.g. gas stoves, propane fire pits), a shovel and a gallon of water—or a 2½ lb fire extinguisher—is required.
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Chainsaws cannot be used between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. Outside that window, use is allowed only with an axe, shovel, and an 8 oz (or larger) fire extinguisher, plus a one-hour post-use fire watch.
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Metalworking, such as grinding, welding, or cutting, is also off-limits between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. Outside that timeframe, similar safety gear is mandated and surrounding vegetation must be cleared.
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Off-road vehicles are restricted to improved roads. Landowners and their workers on private property remain exempt.
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Vehicles on unimproved roads must carry either a shovel and water or a 2½ lb fire extinguisher; ATVs and motorcycles must have approved spark arrestors.
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Power mowing of dry grass is banned from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., except for agricultural purposes. Battery-powered trimmers are allowed year-round.
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Fireworks and blasting are prohibited during this high-risk period.
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Debris burning, exploding targets, tracer ammo, and similar fire-causing items remain banned for the entire fire season (bendbulletin.com).
These limitations build on earlier bans—including debris burning and fireworks—that started June 1 on many BLM, NF, and OSF lands.
ODF forester Rob Pentzer explained that restrictions align with changing conditions; hot weather forecasts prompted the district to escalate the fire danger level and add precautions (theguardian.com). Officials note that these regulations apply to both public and private lands within ODF’s Central Oregon jurisdiction including Klamath County.
ODF urges everyone to stay informed about local fire danger levels, carry basic firefighting tools like shovels and water while traveling, and help extinguish accidental sparks—since roughly 75% of wildfires are human-caused (ktvz.com).
