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Josephine County officials warn of fire season start; residents urge airport maintenance and fireworks limits
Summary
County officials said Oregon Department of Forestry will begin fire season May 15, 2026 (IFPL 1), affecting roughly 1.8 million acres in Josephine County; public commenters urged the county to maintain the Grants Pass Airport perimeter and consider banning fireworks during fire season.
County officials on Wednesday warned residents that fire season in Josephine County begins Friday, May 15, 2026, and outlined the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Southwest Oregon District restrictions that will take effect.
Commissioner Richardson read the ODF notice that the official start time is 12:01 a.m. May 15, 2026; the fire danger level will be Low and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level will be 1. The proclamation listed lands affected as approximately 1,800,000 acres of state, private, county, city and Bureau of Land Management forest lands in Josephine County. The speaker read a list of prohibited activities that will be enforced with the start of fire season: no debris burning (including burn piles and barrels), no fireworks on or within one-eighth of a mile of ODF-protected land, no exploding targets or tracer ammunition, and limitations on campfires outside designated campgrounds. The statement also listed required equipment where open fires are allowed (a shovel and one gallon of water or a 2.5-pound fire extinguisher) and contact information for the Grants Pass ODF unit at 5375 Monument Drive, Grants Pass.
At public comment, Victor, a Grants Pass resident, told the board the county should treat its properties the same it asks of residents and asked specifically that the county maintain the Grants Pass Airport perimeter, which he described as having "chest-high" grass, and that the county consider banning fireworks during wildfire season. Commissioner Colleen Martin said the county "will look into that" and noted maintenance crews had performed extra mowing the prior week.
Commissioner Martin also told the public the board signed a drought emergency declaration for the county’s emergency management department and urged caution: "that’s not a reason to panic, but it’s a reason to be cautious." The chair and commissioners emphasized that local, state and federal firefighting agencies are coordinated and prepared.
No new regulatory ordinances were adopted at the meeting; the board relayed ODF guidance and recorded the drought-emergency request.
