What do "Fire Restrictions" mean for your next visit to the Tillamook State Forest?
At 1:00 AM on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, the Northwest Oregon Forest Protective Association (NWOFPA), which includes the Tillamook State Forest, declared Fire Season. Public Use Restrictions remain the same as 2022.
When you pass an orange or yellow sign like the ones pictured at the right it means that Regulated Use is in effect.
Some things have changed and this year it's also important to pay attention to the fire danger level and know if it's LOW, MODERATE, HIGH or EXTREME because the Public Use Restrictions are now tied to the fire danger level on all Oregon Department of Forestry protected lands, both private and State Forests.
For folks headed out to rural areas or to the Tillamook State Forest, there are several things to keep in mind as you prepare for your trip and while you are out in the woods during regulated use.
Planning ahead and practicing fire safety will not only help keep Oregon's forests green, it may just save you a citation.
While you are traveling through the forests and rural areas, unless you are on a state highway, county road or driveway, each vehicle must have:
- One round pointed shovel which has a face not less than 8 inches wide and a handle not less than 26 inches long
- Either one gallon of water or one operational 2½ pound or larger fire extinguisher. This applies no matter what the fire danger level.
That depends on the fire danger level.
If the fire danger level is LOW, you can have campfires in both the designated and dispersed campsites on State Forests unless posted otherwise.
Fires are not allowed on rock or dirt roads used to access recent timber harvest units. These are not dispersed campsites and can be areas with increased risk of wildfires
If the fire danger level is MODERATE or HIGH, you can only have a campfire in the metal fire pits installed by the Oregon Department of Forestry, unless posted otherwise in:
- Fee Campgrounds & Developed Day Use Areas
- Designated Recreation Areas
- Designated Campsites
If the fire danger level is EXTREME, campfires are prohibited on all Oregon Department of Forestry protected lands.
Where can I smoke?
You can smoke in the closed cab of your vehicle on improved roads or while in Designated
Recreation Areas, Fee Campgrounds or Designated Campsites. This applies no matter
what the fire danger level.
What methods of heat can I use to cook in my campsite?
What methods you can use to cook depend on the fire danger level.
If the fire danger level is LOW, you can cook in both designated and dispersed campsites using:
- Metal fire pits installed by the Oregon Department of Forestry or rock fire rings
- Propane or gas camp stoves
- Charcoal, wood, propane or gas BBQs
If the fire danger level is MODERATE or HIGH, cooking is limited to designated sites using:
- Metal fire pits installed by the Oregon Department of Forestry
- Propane or gas camp stoves
- Propane or gas BBQs
If the danger level is MODERATE or HIGH, charcoal and wood burning BBQs are
prohibited outside of designated campsites and designated recreation facilities.
If the fire danger level is EXTREME, campfires are prohibited on all Oregon Department of Forestry protected lands and cooking is restricted to propane or gas powered stoves or BBQs.
How do I know if the roads and trails are open?
That depends on the fire danger level.
OHV Trails
If the fire danger is LOW or MODERATE the OHV trails in the Tillamook State Forest and
Clatsop State Forest will remain open with the following requirements:
- All Off-Road Vehicles must carry a 2.5 lb or larger ABC fire extinguisher on both unimproved roads and designated trails
If the fire danger is HIGH the OHV trails in the Tillamook State Forest and
Clatsop State Forest will be open to OHV use with operation allowed before 1:00 PM or after 8:00 PM. No OHV use will be allowed between the hours of 1:00 PM and 8:00 PM each day.
If the fire danger is EXTREME OHV use is prohibited.
Equestrian, Hiking, Mountain Bike Trails
These trails will remain open unless there is a forest closure. In EXTREME fire danger conditions, motorized access to recreation facilities may not be available.
more information or answers to specific questions, please call the Oregon Department of
Forestry office nearest you.
