Travel Oregon issues wildfire season update

(AUGUST 1, 2021) Travel Oregon is an organization that promotes tourism. Its website offers information for making travel plans. Recently, it published this travel alert about wildfires in the state.

Like many states in the West, Oregon has seen an increase in the size of wildfires in recent years. Natural wildfires are a part of healthy forest ecosystems. However, uncontrolled wildfires caused by people can endanger lives, homes, and vital natural resources.

On June 30, 2021, Governor Kate Brown declared a state of emergency due to the threat of wildfire across Oregon. There have been record-breaking high temperatures. Therefore, much of the state has been in high or extreme fire danger.

Effective Thursday, July 22, 2021, no campfires are allowed in state parks and in state-managed forests east of Interstate 5. This includes charcoal fires, cooking fires, warming fires, charcoal briquettes, pellet grills, candles, tiki torches and other devices. Portable cooking stoves or propane lanterns using liquefied or bottle fuels are allowed, though propane fire pits are not. To learn more about the campfire ban, visit the Oregon Department of Forestry website.

As of July 27, 2021, the following wildfires are in Oregon:

• • • The Bootleg Fire is burning about 15 miles northwest of Beatty. Smoke from the fire is highly visible from Oregon State Highway 140, Sprague River Highway, Chiloquin, and the surrounding area. Area residents and visitors should avoid the fire area.

    • The Elbow Creek Fire is burning about 31 miles southeast of Walla Walla, Washington, in the Grande Ronde River drainage near Mud Springs, Washington. The fire is burning on both sides of the Grande Ronde River and is on or threatening Umatilla National Forest lands. The entire forest is temporarily closed. There is also risk on Wallowa-Whitman National Forest lands, Vale District Bureau of Land Management lands, and Oregon Department of Forestry protected lands.

For more information and answers to frequently asked questions, read this guide to what you need to know about wildfire season in Oregon. Before traveling in Oregon, check out these resources:

• • • Northwest Interagency Coordination Center: Here you can find an interactive map of current major wildfires.

    • Forest Service: fire danger levels: This site has descriptions about fire danger levels and what they mean.

    • Tillamook State Forest blog: Here is Information about fire danger levels and what to bring for a safe trip.

    • Ready Set Gorge: This trip-planning resource helps to ensure a safe, sustainable and enjoyable time in the Gorge.

    • Oregon Department of Forestry: Visitors to this site can find current and historical Oregon wildfire information.

    • TripCheck: This website has an interactive map featuring current road conditions, closures, and delays.

    • Oregon Smoke Information: This blog reports Oregon smoke forecasts and air quality updates.

    • OR-Alert: Sign up on this website for emergency notifications.

    • Keep Oregon Green: Read fire prevention tips from this resource.