Fire Season: Restrictions & Closures
About the Oregon Fire Season
Fire season in Oregon typically spans between early July to early to mid-October and is managed by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF). Some of the routes on this website pass through public and private lands subject to fire season restrictions and closures.
Contents of this page
(1) Public lands
(2) Private timberlands
(3) Industrial Fire Precaution Levels (IFPF)
(4) Contact information for private timber companies
(5) Hancock Forests & Weyerhaeuser
(6) Siuslaw National Forest Fire Season Prohibitions
(7) Other useful websites
(1) Public lands
Fire season information for major public landowners can be found here:
Bureau of Land Management - Oregon & Washington - Fire Closures & Restrictions
[Note: If you want to visit the Valley of the Giants during fire season, call the Northwest Oregon District Office in Salem at 503-375-5646 before you go].
Siuslaw National Forest - Fire Management & Fire Level Danger Descriptions
(2) Private timberlands
Private timber companies typically base their restrictions and closures on the Industrial Fire Precaution Levels (IFPL) set by the Oregon Department of Forestry. There are four Industrial Fire Precaution Levels (IFPL) which represent increasing levels of risk (IFPL 1, 2, 3, and 4). Each private timber company has its own policies for restricting public motorized and non-motorized access during these levels.
To obtain information about the current IFPL level, visit the Industrial Fire Restrictions Map and click on your area of interest. The routes on this website span areas areas WO-1, WO-2 and WO-3. Information about private timber company closures can be viewed on the following webpage from the Oregon Forest & Industries Council: Private Forestland Closures.
(3) Industrial Fire Precaution Levels (IFPF)
IFPLs address the type and timing of work that can be done during fire season to reduce the risk of operations sparking a wildfire.
Level I (Fire Season)
Level II (Limited Shutdown): Restricts certain operations to the hours between 8am to 1pm.
Level III (Restricted Shutdown): Restricts certain operations to the hours between 8am to 1pm.
Level IV (Complete Shutdown): All operations are prohibited.
(4) Contact information for private timber companies
Contact information for some private timber companies can be viewed on the following webpage from the Oregon Forest & Industries Council: Private Forestland Closures. For more information from some of the major private timber companies in our area, see below:
Giustina Resources: 541-485-1500
Hancock Forests: 503-838-1610
Starker Forests: View fire information here; 541-929-2477
Weyerhaeuser: 888-741-5403
(5) Hancock Forests & Weyerhaeuser
At fire season level 1 and 2 roads are typically open to motor vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians although there may be restrictions on motor vehicles. Electric bicycles, motorcycles, and ATVs are prohibited.
At fire season level 3 all roads are are closed to motor vehicles, but hiking and biking is permitted.
At fire season level 4 public access is prohibited.
The only exception is the Mill Creek drainage located in Polk County (see location) which is owned by Weyerhauser. It is closed to motor vehicles at the start of fire season (level 1) and reopened when it's over.
(6) Siuslaw National Forest Fire Season Prohibitions
Siuslaw National Forest - Fire Management & Fire Level Danger Descriptions
The following are prohibited during high or extreme fire level danger:
Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire except within a developed recreation site. (See full order for a list).
Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site.
Operating an internal combustion engine, specifically generators, except in areas devoid of vegetation and those located inside of buildings.
Possessing or using a motor vehicle off National Forest Service roads or trails, except when parking in an area devoid of vegetation for 10 feet surrounding the vehicle.
(7) Other useful websites
Other useful websites about fire, smoke, and air quality in Oregon include: