Campfire/flame restrictions

mdi-chevron-left Feature Articles Sep 9, 2024
Plus, six tips to keep campfires safe and enjoyable this season

Campfire restrictions update - read carefully

Please check this page before your camping reservation to see if the park you're visiting is impacted by a fire ban. These bans help to keep you and other visitors safe during the busy fire season. Most parks have some type of ban or restriction currently due to the dry conditions and increased risk of wildfires. You can learn more about wildfire impacts at Oregon State Parks. 

A fire ban means no wood fires, charcoal, charcoal briquettes, pellet-fueled grills, candles, tiki torches and other devices that emit flames or embers and cannot be turned off with a valve. Portable cooking stoves, propane fire rings, barbecues, and lanterns using liquefied or bottle fuels are allowed. Devices using liquefied or bottle fuels are banned in the backcountry unless used for cooking. Exceptions to this will be noted beside the park below:

These are the areas that have a current fire ban:

  • Ainsworth State Park
  • Albert H. Powers State Recreation Site
  • Alderwood State Wayside (propane fire rings also not permitted)
  • Alfred A. Loeb State Park (wood fires permitted within campground in established fire rings)
  • Arizona Beach State Park
  • Bald Peak State Scenic Viewpoint (propane fire rings also not permitted)
  • Bandon State Natural Area
  • Bates State Park (pellet-fueled grills permitted in established campsites, generator use not permitted)
  • Battle Mountain Forest State Scenic Corridor
  • Ben and Kay Dorris State Recreation Site (propane fire rings also not permitted)
  • Benson State Recreation Area
  • Blachly Mountain Forest (propane fire rings also not permitted)
  • Blue Mountain Forest State Scenic Corridor
  • Bolon Island Tideways State Scenic Corridor
  • Bonneville State Scenic Corridor
  • Bonnie Lure State Recreation Area (propane fire rings also not permitted)
  • Booth State Scenic Corridor
  • Bowers Rock State Park (propane fire rings also not permitted)
  • Bridal Veil Falls State Scenic Viewpoint
  • Bullards Beach State Park (wood fires permitted within the campground in established fire rings)
  • Canyon Creek Forest State Natural Area
  • Cape Arago State Park
  • Cape Blanco State Park (wood fires permitted within the campground in established fire rings)
  • Cape Sebastian State Scenic Corridor
  • Catherine Creek State Park
  • Champoeg State Heritage Site
  • Chandler State Wayside
  • Clarno State Park (propane fire rings also not permitted)
  • Cline Falls State Scenic Viewpoint
  • Clyde Holiday State Recreation Site (propane devices and pellet-fueled grills permitted for cooking only)
  • Collier Memorial State Park
  • Conde B. McCullough State Recreation Site
  • Coquille Myrtle Grove State Natural Site
  • Cottonwood Canyon State Park (propane devices allowed for cooking only in designated sites, propane fire rings are not permitted)
  • Crissey Field State Recreation Site
  • Crooked Creek State Natural Area
  • Crown Point State Scenic Viewpoint
  • Dabney State Recreation Area
  • Dalton Point State Recreation Site
  • Deschutes River State Recreation Area (propane devices allowed for cooking only in designated sites, propane fire rings are not permitted)
  • Detroit Lake State Recreation Area (propane fire rings are also not permitted)
  • Dexter State Recreation Site (propane fire rings also not permitted)
  • Dyer Wayside (propane fire rings also not permitted)
  • Elijah Bristow State Park (propane fire rings also not permitted)
  • Elk Creek Tunnel Forest State Scenic Corridor
  • Elliott Corbett Memorial State Recreation Site
  • Erratic Rock State Natural Site (propane fire rings also not permitted)
  • Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint
  • Fall Creek State Recreation Area (propane fire rings also not permitted)
  • Farewell Bend State Recreation Area
  • Floras Lake State Natural Area
  • Fort Rock State Natural Area
  • Fort Yamhill State Heritage Site (propane fire rings also not permitted)
  • Fountain Wayside (propane devices permitted for cooking only, propane fire rings are not permitted)
  • Geisel Monument State Heritage Site
  • George W. Joseph State Natural Area
  • Golden State Heritage Site
  • Golden and Silver Falls State Natural Area
  • Goose Lake State Recreation Area
  • Government Island State Recreation Area
  • Guy W. Talbot State Park
  • Harris Beach State Recreation Area (wood fires permitted within the campground in established fire rings)
  • Hat Rock State Park
  • Hilgard Junction State Recreation Area
  • Hoffman Memorial State Wayside
  • Holman State Wayside (propane fire rings also not permitted)
  • Humbug Mountain State Park (wood fires permitted within the campground in established fire rings)
  • Illinois River Forks State Park
  • Iwetemlaykin State Heritage Site (propane devices allowed for cooking only, propane fire rings are not permitted)
  • J S Burres State Recreation Site (propane fire rings also not permitted)
  • Jackson F. Kimball State Recreation Site (propane fire rings also not permitted)
  • Jasper State Recreation Site (propane fire rings also not permitted)
  • Jennie B. Harris State Recreation Site (propane fire rings also not permitted)
  • John B. Yeon State Scenic Corridor
  • Johnson Wayside (propane devices permitted for cooking only, propane fire rings are not permitted)
  • Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site (propane devices and pellet-fueled grills permitted for cooking only)
  • Koberg Beach State Recreation Site
  • Lake Owyhee State Park (propane devices are permitted for cooking only, propane fire rings are not permitted)
  • LaPine State Park (wood fires permitted within the campground in established fire rings)
  • Lang Forest State Scenic Corridor
  • Lewis and Clark State Recreation Site
  • Lindsey Creek State Scenic Corridor
  • Lonesome Willow State Park
  • Lowell State Recreation Site (propane fire rings also not permitted)
  • Luckiamute State Natural Area (propane fire rings also not permitted)
  • Maud Williamson State Recreation Site (propane fire rings also not permitted)
  • Mayer State Park
  • McLoughlin State Natural Area
  • McVay Rock State Recreation Site
  • Memaloose State Park
  • Milo McIver State Park (propane fire rings also not permitted)
  • Minam State Recreation Area (propane devices permitted for cooking only, propane fire rings are not permitted)
  • Molalla River State Park (propane fire rings also not permitted)
  • OC&E Woods Line State Trail
  • Ochoco State Scenic Viewpoint
  • Ontario State Recreation Site
  • Ophir State Recreation Site
  • Otter Point State Recreation Site
  • Paradise Point State Recreation Site
  • Port Orford Cedar Forest State Scenic Corridor
  • Port Orford Heads State Park
  • Pete French Round Barn State Heritage Site (propane devices and pellet-fueled grills permitted for cooking only)
  • Peter Skene Ogden State Scenic Viewpoint
  • Pilot Butte State Scenic Viewpoint
  • Pistol River State Scenic Viewpoint
  • Portland Women's Forum State Scenic Viewpoint
  • Prineville Reservoir State Park
  • Dispersed camping on North Shore Road (Owl Creek, Juniper Bass, Cattle Guard, Old Field, and Combs Flats) (Propane devices allowed for cooking only)
  • Dispersed camping on south shore (Roberts Bay and Big Bend) (Propane devices allowed for cooking only)
  • Jasper Point Campground (wood fires permitted in established fire rings)
  • Prineville Reservoir Campground (wood fires permitted in established fire rings)
  • Red Bridge State Wayside
  • Redmond-Bend Juniper State Scenic Corridor
  • Rocky Butte State Scenic Corridor
  • Rooster Rock State Park
  • Rough and Ready Forest State Natural Site
  • Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor
  • Sarah Helmick State Recreation Site (propane fire rings also not permitted)
  • Seneca Fouts Memorial State Natural Area
  • Seven Devils State Recreation Site
  • Sheppherd's Dell State Natural Area
  • Sheridan State Scenic Corridor
  • Shore Acres State Park
  • Sisters State Park
  • Sisters Rock State Natural Area
  • Smith Rock State Park (propane devices permitted for cooking only in the bivouac cooking area, propane fire rings are not permitted)
  • Stage Coach Forest State Scenic Corridor
  • Starvation Creek State Park
  • Succor Creek State Natural Area (propane devices permitted for cooking only, propane fire rings are not permitted)
  • Sumpter Valley Dredge State Heritage Area (propane devices and pellet-fueled grills permitted for cooking only)
  • Sunset Bay State Park (wood fires permitted within the campground in established fire rings)
  • Thompson’s Mills State Historic Site (propane fire rings are also not permitted)
  • TouVelle State Recreation Site
  • Tryon Creek State Natural Area (propane fire rings also not permitted)
  • Tseriadun State Recreation Area
  • Tumalo State Park
  • Campground (wood fires permitted within the campground in established fire rings)
  • Day Use Area
  • Ukiah/Dale Forest State Scenic Corridor (generator use not permitted)
  • Umpqua Lighthouse State Park (wood fire permitted within the campground in established fire rings)
  • Umpqua Myrtle State Natural Site
  • Umpqua State Scenic Corridor
  • Unity Forest State Scenic Corridor (propane devices and pellet-fueled grills permitted for cooking only)
  • Unity Lake State Recreation Site (propane devices and pellet-fueled grills permitted for cooking only)
  • Valley of the Rogue State Recreation Area (wood fires permitted within the campground in established fire rings)
  • Viento State Park
  • Vinzenz Lausmann Memorial State Natural Area
  • Wallowa Lake Highway State Scenic Corridor (propane devices permitted for cooking only, propane fire rings are not permitted
  • Wallowa Falls Campground (propane devices permitted for cooking only, propane fire rings are not permitted)
  • Wallowa River Rest Area (propane devices permitted for cooking only, propane fire rings are not permitted)
  • Warm Springs State Recreation Area
  • White River Falls State Park (propane fire rings also not permitted)
  • Willamette River Greenway (propane fire rings also not permitted)
  • Willamette Stone State Heritage Site (propane fire rings also not permitted)
  • William M. Tugman State Park (wood fires permitted within the campground in established fire rings)
  • Winchuck State Recreation Site
  • Wolf Creek Inn State Heritage Site
  • Wyeth State Recreation Area
  • Wygant State Natural Area
  • Yoakam Point State Natural Site

Fireworks are prohibited year-round on all Oregon beaches and Oregon state park property.

Questions? Send an email to our Oregon State Parks Information Center or call 800 551-6949.

Six tips for a safe and enjoyable campfire when and where permitted

  1.  Maintain campfire flames at knee height (about 2 feet high). A smaller flame helps prevent ash and embers from rising into the trees or dry vegetation. If you see the wind stirring up embers, play it safe and put the fire out.
     
  2. Only build campfires in the existing fire ring in your campsite. Fire rings are placed in areas with buffer zones and away from vegetation.
     
  3. Always keep plenty of water on hand to safely put out the campfire. Douse the flames with water and stir the embers to make sure everything is wet. The stirring step is important: ash and wood debris often maintain heat.
     
  4. Beach campfires should be on open sand and away from driftwood or vegetation. Slowly pour water on your beach fire to put it out. Pouring water too quickly can cause hot sand to fly. Don’t use sand to put out a beach fire. Covering the fire with sand will insulate the coals, keeping them hot enough to burn someone hours or even days later.
     
  5. For propane fire rings, follow the same safety precautions you would with a log-based campfire. The use of propane fire rings may vary depending on local conditions.
     
  6.  Make sure everyone in your campsite is familiar with campfire safety, including children. Always keep an eye on your campfire; many accidental fires are started because campers left their fire unattended for “just a minute.”

 

When a campground is in a wildfire evacuation Level 1, 2 or 3

Level 1

Before you arrive—or during your stay—a campground may be affected by a wildfire. The park could be subject to Level 1, 2, or 3 notification without warning. Incoming reservation customers will receive an email from us if a park is under a Level 1 status or if it is closed because of Level 2 or Level 3 status. The status will also be included in the fire restrictions list above when needed.

What does this mean and what should you consider for your trip?

  • If a park reaches Level 1, that means a fire is in the area, and you should be ready to evacuate if notified. Air quality may be affected. Visit www.oregonsmoke.org and ODF's current wildfire information for the latest conditions.
    • If you choose to cancel your reservation when a park is at Level 1, standard charges and policies apply. Cancellation information

Level 2

  • If a park falls within the Level 2 boundaries, it will be evacuated. Please follow the direction of park staff or law enforcement to safely leave the campground.
    • Your reservations will be canceled and all fees will be refunded. Oregon State Parks will contact incoming campers with updates on their reservations. 

Level 3

  • If a park falls within the Level 3 boundaries, it is under evacuation or has already evacuated. Please follow the direction of park staff or law enforcement to safely leave the campground.
  • Your reservations will be canceled and all fees will be refunded. Oregon State Parks will contact incoming campers with updates on their reservations. 

Resources

Oregon Wildfire Response and Recovery

Oregon Smoke Information

Tripcheck: Check road conditions before you travel.

For breaking news and information, follow the Twitter accounts and Facebook pages for Oregon State Parks, Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon Department of Transportation, and Oregon Department of Emergency Management.