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County adopts summer wildfire restrictions on unprotected lands and county property effective June 1
Summary
Deschutes County declared a local state of emergency for wildfire risk and adopted Resolution 2025-013 to impose public use restrictions — including bans on open fires and fireworks and time-limited chainsaw use — on unprotected lands and county-owned properties effective June 1.
Deschutes County on May 21 adopted Resolution 2025-013, declaring an emergency and imposing public-use fire restrictions on unprotected wild lands within the unincorporated county and on county‑owned lands effective June 1.
County Forester Kevin Moriarty outlined the proposed restrictions to prevent wildfire starts as weather turns warmer and drier. The restrictions apply to “unprotected lands” (areas outside structural fire protection districts and outside Oregon Department of Forestry protection) and county-owned lands. Highlights include: - Prohibition on open fires — including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking and warming fires — except in designated areas; portable stoves using bottled/LP fuels allowed. - Chainsaw use prohibited between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m.; chainsaws used on restricted lands must be used with firefighting equipment on hand. - Cutting and grinding work (e.g., welding/grinding) restricted between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. - Motor vehicle use restricted to improved roads except for landowners and their employees; vehicles engaged in work on restricted lands must carry firefighting tools (shovel, fire extinguisher, gallon of water). - Fireworks are prohibited in the restricted areas.
Commissioners discussed the geographic scope, noted that many requests for a full fireworks ban in unincorporated Deschutes County have come before the board in past years and said prior analysis indicated the majority of ignitions from fireworks had occurred inside city boundaries — notably the City of Bend — rather than unincorporated areas. Commissioner Chang said the county forester will continue to evaluate ignition data and revisit policies if the data support expanded restrictions.
Commissioner Dyer moved adoption of Resolution 2025-013; the motion passed unanimously (Commissioner Dyer: yes; Commissioner Chang: yes; Chair: yes). Staff said county employees who use county lands should carry basic firefighting equipment when visiting those lands and that the resolution does not supersede fire protection district or city restrictions within incorporated areas.
