Public use fire restrictions will take effect June 1 on all County-owned property and all unprotected land in the unincorporated areas of Deschutes County. These restrictions will remain in effect until mid-October.
“Every year since 2014, the County has enacted public use fire restrictions to help prevent the start of wildfires.” said Kevin Moriarty, Deschutes County Forester. “As we transition to warmer and drier summer weather, we’re asking the public to remain diligent and comply with these restrictions for the health and safety of our entire community.”
Here are some of the restrictions in effect:
- Open fires are prohibited. This includes campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, except in designated areas. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed.
- Smoking is prohibited while traveling on unimproved roads (e.g. gravel, dirt, natural landscape).
- Chainsaw use is prohibited between the hours of 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. Chainsaw use is permitted at all other hours if firefighting equipment is present, and a one-hour fire watch follows each saw use.
- Fireworks are prohibited.
- Motorized vehicles are prohibited on unimproved roads (e.g. gravel, dirt, natural landscape). This includes all-terrain vehicles. Vehicles used by a landowner on their own property is allowed while conducting activities associated with their livelihood.
- The use of power or gas mowers and similar equipment is prohibited between the hours of 1 p.m. and 8 p.m., except for the commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops.
A complete list of Deschutes County public use fire restrictions can be viewed here. You can view a map of the areas that are included in these restrictions here.