2024 Wildfire Information 

Wildfires are unplanned fires that burn in natural areas like forests, grasslands or prairies. Unfortunately in Oregon, wildfires are a hazard that have a growing and devastating impact on our communities and public lands. 

While we hope wildfire will not impact your experience as a volunteer in Oregon, it's important that in a wildfire emergency, you prioritize your health and safety and are prepared to respond to direction from emergency service personnel, including evacuation orders.

In addition to being personally prepared for a wildfire emergency, you need to know the emergency procedures for your park. If you don't know the answer to the following questions, talk with park staff so you're prepared for any potential emergency while volunteering:

Oregon Wildfire Evacuation Levels: Ready, Set, Go!

In the event of a wildfire emergency, Oregon issues evacuation orders at three levels. If your park is impacted by an evacuation level, staff will communicate with you what is expected. 

Across the state, if any park is set at a level 2 evacuation order, visitors and volunteers are evacuated and instructed to follow evacuation orders from the Office of Emergency Management and emergency services personnel.

A Summary of the evacuation levels are below, but find more information online here.

Level 1: Be Ready

This is the time for preparation. Residents should be aware of the danger that exists in their area, monitor emergency services websites and local media outlets for information.

Level 2: Be Set

This level indicates there is significant danger to your area, and residents should either voluntarily relocate to a shelter or with family/friends outside of the affected area, or if choosing to remain, to be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice. For park hosts and camp visitors in a park under level 2, evacuation is not voluntary.

Level 3: Go!

Danger to your area is current or imminent, and you should evacuate immediately.


Air Quality Impacts to Volunteer Service

All OPRD volunteers need to put their own health and safety first, and that's especially important if the location where you're serving is impacted by poor air quality due to smoke and wildfires.

It is recommended that volunteers use the Air Now website and/or app to monitor air quality at their specific location. You can monitor monitor air quality on airnow.gov.

A chart, that shares air quality metrics and the populations that would be impacted by certain air quality levels is included below. OPRD requires volunteers to cease all volunteer service activities when the air quality index is above 250. However, individuals are directed to make their own decisions about engaging in service when air quality levels are elevated but below 250. If you determine that due to the AQI on a certain day, it is unhealthy for you to perform service at a lower level than 250, inform your park manager so they are aware when you will not be engaging in service. At any time you feel you need an N95, reach out to your volunteer coordinator.