Malheur National Forest Reduces Industrial Fire Precaution Level 

By on Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories

JOHN DAY, PRAIRIE CITY, AND HINES(Release from the U.S. Forest Service)-With the recent rains across the North end of the Malheur National Forest (Blue Mountain and Prairie City Ranger Districts) the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) will be reduced to an IFPL I. This change will be effective immediately. The Malheur National Forest will remain in Public Use Restrictions Phase B.

Under Phase B of Public Use Restrictions, the following acts are prohibited on all National Forest System Lands within the Malheur National Forest, in the state of Oregon:

1)   Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, charcoal briquette or stove fire, except within a designated recreation site listed in Exhibit B (below). 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(a).

2)   Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material. 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(d).

3)   Operating a chainsaw between the hours of 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm. 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(h). Saw operators are required to have a shovel (8” wide, 26” length), and fire extinguisher (minimum ABC 8 oz.) in their possession. A one-hour fire watch is required after saw operations cease.

4)   Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order in accordance with U.S. Forest Service Standard 5100-1. 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(j). Generators are allowed when located in a location cleared of flammable material in an area at least 10 feet in diameter and approved spark arrestor.

5)   Possess or use a vehicle off National Forest System roads. 36 C.F.R. § 261.56. Except when parking in an area devoid of vegetation within 10 feet of the roadway.

EXHIBIT B

DESIGNATED RECREATION SITES

BLUE MOUNTAIN RANGER DISTRICT

  • Billy Fields Campground
  • Deerhorn Campground
  • Deer Creek Guard Station
  • Dixie Campground
  • Fall Mountain Lookout
  • Head O’Boulder Forest Camp
  • Lower Camp Creek Campground
  • Magone Lake Campground
  • Middle Fork Campground
  • Murderers Creek Cabin
  • Oregon Mine Campground
  • Parish Cabin Campground
  • Starr Campground
  • Wickiup Campground 

PRAIRIE CITY RANGER DISTRICT

  • Big Creek Campground
  • Crescent Campground
  • Elk Creek Campground
  • Little Crane Campground
  • Murray Campground
  • North Fork Malheur Campground
  • Short Creek Guard Station
  • Slide Horse Camp
  • Strawberry Basin Campground
  • Lake Creek Youth Camp
  • Trout Farm Campground 

EMIGRANT RANGER DISTRICT

  • Buck Spring Campground
  • Delintment Campground
  • Falls Campground
  • Idlewild Campground
  • Joaquin Miller Campground
  • Rock Springs Camp
  • Tip Top Campground 

For additional information about Fire Danger, Public Use Restrictions, and Industrial Fire Precaution Levels, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/malheur or call our office at 541-575-3000. 

Elkhorn Media Group