MEDFORD, OR. – With Southern Oregon baking under prolonged high temperatures and wildfire risk climbing by the day, the Bureau of Land Management’s Medford District will impose Extreme Fire Danger restrictions on all BLM-managed lands starting 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, August 12, 2025.
The move, prompted by both current conditions and concerning weather forecasts, represents the most restrictive fire-safety measures short of full closures. It applies to popular recreation areas, including the Hyatt Lake campground, and aims to curb the possibility of human-caused wildfires at a time when firefighting resources are stretched thin.
Under the new rules, campfires are banned everywhere on BLM Medford District lands. Visitors may still use portable cooking stoves fueled by bottled or liquefied gas, as well as propane fire pits with on/off valves — but only in locations free of vegetation. Charcoal briquettes, wood fires, and any other open flames are prohibited.
Other activities are also restricted:
- Smoking is permitted only inside a vehicle or in a stationary spot cleared of vegetation for at least three feet in all directions.
- Motorized travel and parking off-road are allowed only on surfaces clear of flammable material, including for motorcycles and ATVs.
- Fireworks, exploding targets, and tracer ammunition are prohibited.
- Chainsaw operation is banned, as is welding or using a torch with an open flame.
In addition, visitors are required to carry basic firefighting tools — a shovel and either a gallon of water or a 2.5-pound fire extinguisher — so they can quickly suppress small blazes if necessary.
Violations of these restrictions are no minor matter. Offenders could face fines up to $100,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both.
BLM officials emphasized that protecting the public and firefighters remains their highest priority. With temperatures soaring and vegetation extremely dry, they say every person venturing onto public lands must take extra care to avoid sparking a blaze.
Information on current public use restrictions can be found at www.blm.gov/orwafire and through the Oregon Department of Forestry at www.oregon.gov/ODF/Fire/Pages/Restrictions.aspx.
For preparedness tips, visit www.ready.gov/wildfires.