LOCAL FIRE WEATHER Dec 10
Fog or ice fog, sky invisible, no appreciable change,
With hot, dry summers and frequent lightning, the area faces high wildfire risk. The Southwest Oregon District office oversees fire protection for diverse lands through responsible management, rapid response, and community partnerships.
Situated along the California border, ODF's Southwest Oregon District encompasses over 1.8 million acres of ruggedly beautiful landscapes in Jackson and Josephine counties. This area contains a mosaic of vegetation types, from mixed conifer forests to oak woodlands and chaparral. The region provides prime habitat for black bears, cougars, Roosevelt elk, and over 300 bird species. Scenic rivers like the Rogue and Illinois flow through steep canyons and valleys dotted with vineyards and orchards.
With its hot, dry summers and frequent lightning strikes, southwest Oregon faces some of the highest wildfire risk in the state. The district works tirelessly to prevent and suppress wildfires through responsible forest management, rapid response capabilities, and community partnerships. District foresters assist landowners of all sizes in implementing techniques like fuel reduction to bolster forest health and fire resilience.
The Southwest Oregon District office oversees fire protection for 1.8 million acres of private, county, state, tribal, and BLM lands. Its 113 full-time personnel and 290 seasonal firefighters safeguard communities, economies, and ecosystems through prompt fire suppression and proactive prevention. Partnerships with rural fire districts, organizations like Firewise Communities, Keep Oregon Green, and the Oregon Forest Resources Institute spread fire safety awareness.
With critical infrastructure, treasured natural areas, and productive timberlands to protect, ODF remains deeply committed to the communities of southern Oregon. Our exceptional team looks forward to continuing a tradition of service, safety, and stewardship on these cherished lands.
For Residents within the ODF - Southwest Oregon District jurisdiction: Sign in to learn about your local Outdoor Burning Regulations, communicate with your local fire agency officials, read condition reports, create and update your own outdoor burn status.
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Oregon State Fire Marshal
To serve the people of Oregon by protecting, managing, and promoting stewardship of Oregon’s forests to enhance environmental, economic, and community sustainability.
Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF)
The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) protects 16 million acres of Oregon's public and private forestlands from wildfire, manages 800,000+ acres of Oregon's state forests, enforces the Oregon Forest Practices Act and other rules and laws to conserve Oregon's forests, assists private forestland owners, and works with urban communities to help sustain Oregon's most "lived-in" forests - trees in urban areas, city parks, neighborhoods, and open spaces. ODF serves Oregonians by helping to keep forests healthy, working, and sustainable.