Fire Restrictions: BLM Urges Recreators To Respect Closures For Public SafetyBureau of Land Management Ore. & Wash. - 08/27/26 7:41 AM
PORTLAND, Ore. – Fire restrictions remain in effect on all Bureau of Land Management public lands in Oregon and Washington as the region faces a record setting wildfire season. More than 2.5 million acres have already burned across the Northwest. BLM officials are calling on all public land visitors to exercise extreme caution, follow fire restrictions and closures, and help prevent additional wildfires.
“More than 99% of BLM land is open to recreation nationwide,” said Kim Prill, BLM Oregon/Washington State Director. “We carefully put restrictions in place when and where necessary to keep the public safe.”
This reminder comes as some fire closure areas are shrinking and BLM officials are loosening some restrictions, opening up options for hunters, hikers, and other recreators. The most up to date information about access to BLM land is available online.
“Even as some restrictions shift, we’re still in the heart of fire season for the Pacific Northwest,” said Josh O’Connor, Northwest Geographic Area Fire Chief for the U.S. Wildland Fire Service. “Be sure to check fire restrictions in the area you’ll be visiting, and follow them to the letter.”
Specific fire restrictions vary by location based on fire danger, weather conditions, and fuel moisture. These restrictions address what types of ammunition can be used, whether campfires are allowed, and what fire prevention equipment is required. Before visiting public lands, all recreators should check local restrictions and closures.
“We appreciate everyone’s diligence and cooperation, as we find ways to enjoy public lands while protecting our firefighters and our communities,” said Prill.
Individuals responsible for starting wildfires may face fines of up to $100,000, imprisonment for up to 12 months, and liability for the full cost of wildfire suppression.
For more information on seasonal fire restrictions and fire closures, please see www.blm.gov/orwafire.
-BLM-
The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
The U.S. Wildland Fire Service conducts operations in close coordination with the Bureau of Land Management. As a unified federal entity under the Department of the Interior, the USWFS integrates expertise to streamline wildfire prevention, response and recovery under our shared mission to foster fire-resilient landscapes and safeguard communities across America’s public lands.
Bureau of Land Management Ore. & Wash. - 08/25/26 7:49 AM
WASHINGTON — In a season of big numbers and bigger harvests, the BLM's Pumpkin Pi Timber Sale roasted modern records. The 400-acre sale brought in nearly $10.6 million and will produce 23.5 million board feet of timber. The seasonally named sale surpassed the previous record by nearly 5.5 million board feet, boosting the domestic timber supply and supporting American jobs.
“This record-breaking timber sale is a major boon for western Oregon’s economy,” said BLM Director Steve Pearce. “Beyond the revenue shared with 18 counties, this sale will generate more than $70 million in local economic activity.”
Throughout the month of August, the BLM sold more than 40 million board feet of timber across roughly 1,400 acres in western Oregon, earning more than $17 million. These sales will produce enough timber to build 2,500 single family homes and support 550 jobs.
“Under the Trump Administration, streamlined approvals and expanded tools for public land managers helped make record setting sales like this possible, strengthening America’s domestic lumber supply, supporting rural economies, and reducing reliance on foreign sourced building materials,” Pearce said.
The BLM manages 2.4 million acres of some of the most productive forests in the world and is committed to supplying a reliable, secure, and resilient domestic supply of timber. In western Oregon, this commitment is embodied in the Oregon and California Revested Lands Sustained Yield Management Act of 1937. Under that Act, the BLM’s forestry and timber program sustains lives, livelihoods, and quality of life for the communities in and around them.
BLM forestry supports economic security, reduces risks from wildfire, improves fish and wildlife habitat, and decreases costs of energy production. Local communities rely on jobs that come from BLM forests, and timber from public land feeds local industry.
Additionally, revenue from timber harvested on Oregon and California lands is shared between the U.S. Treasury and 18 western Oregon counties. This funding provides local communities with the means to construct new county buildings; develop fairgrounds and museums; support libraries, schools, and jails; and build flood-control dams and reservoirs. While under the Secure Rural Schools Act, the revenues help fund restoration projects on federal lands, fund emergency search and rescue services, and make communities safer from wildfire.
-BLM-
The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
Bureau of Land Management Ore. & Wash. - 08/21/26 11:57 AM
VALE, Ore. — The Bureau of Land Management is providing ranchers greater flexibility in how they manage their operations and extending the grazing season to better support long-term rangeland health by issuing three proposed grazing decisions that renew permits across half a million acres in southeast Oregon,
“Healthy rangelands are crucial to the ranching economy,” said Acting BLM Vale District Manager Mike Decker. “These decisions that will provide long-term clarity to our permittees, who are crucial employers in this rural community.”
Good grazing practices maintain rangeland health, reduce wildfire risk, and sustain rural communities that power the American economy. These actions will support local jobs and provide long-term economic benefits through sustainable ranching operations.
“Public land ranchers—like our permittees right here in southeast Oregon—play a key role in food security and keeping grocery prices down,” Decker added.
Public lands belong to the American people. The BLM actively manages rangelands to increase economic returns for the safety and benefit of rural communities, in support of Secretary’s Order 3419, “Delivering Emergency Price Relief for American Families and Defeating the Cost-of-Living Crisis.”
Along with the proposed grazing decisions, the final Environmental Impact Statement for the Louse Canyon Geographic Management Area Rangeland Health Management Actions, which analyzes the proposed decisions, is available on the BLM NEPA Register.
-BLM-
The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
U.S. Attorney's Office - Eastern Dist. of Wash. - 08/21/26 11:38 AM
TOPPENISH MAN FOUND GUILTY OF ASSAULT BY STRANGULATION