PHASE B FIRE RESTRICTIONS - North Malheur

Associated Documents

Forest Order

MALHEUR NATIONAL FOREST
Forest Order #06-04-00-25-04
 

ORDER
PHASE B FIRE RESTRICTIONS - North Malheur

Pursuant to 16 USC. § 551 and 36 CFR. § 261.50(a) and (b), the following acts are prohibited on all National Forest System Lands within the Blue Mountain and Prairie City Ranger Districts on the Malheur National Forest, Oregon. This Order is effective from July 18, 2025, at 12:01 a.m., through September 30, 2025, 11:59 p.m., unless rescinded sooner.
 

PROHIBITIONS:
1) Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, charcoal briquette, or stove fire, except within a designated recreation site listed in Exhibit B (below) of this Order. 36 CFR. § 261.52(a).
2) Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, at a recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material. 36 CFR. § 261.52(d).
3) Operating a chainsaw between the hours of 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm. 36 CFR. § 261.52(g). Saw operators are required to have a shovel (8” wide, 26” length), and fire extinguisher (minimum ABC 8 oz.) in their possession 36 CFR. § 261.52(f). A one-hour fire watch is required at the site of any chainsaw operations after saw operations cease.
4) Operating an internal combustion engine. 36 CFR. § 261.52(g).
a. Generators are allowed when used in a location cleared of flammable material in an area at least 10 feet in diameter and approved spark arrestor.
5) Possess or use a vehicle off National Forest System roads, except when parking in an area devoid of vegetation within 10 feet of the roadway. 36 CFR. § 261.56.
 

CLOSURE AREA DESCRIPTION:
The Closure Area includes all National Forest System Lands within the Blue Mountain and Prairie City Ranger Districts on the Malheur National Forest, Oregon, as shown on the attached map (Exhibit A). Note that the Closure Area includes the Forest Service lands inside the towns of John Day and Prairie City.

EXEMPTIONS:
Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:
1. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or
Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order.
2. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force
in the performance of an official duty. Owners, residents or lessees of land in the area.
3. Any person having a campfire within a designated campfire ring at a designated recreation
site listed in Exhibit B below.
4. Any person is exempt from Prohibition 1 (above) when using a fire fueled solely by liquid
petroleum or LPG fuels and flammable vegetation is cleared a minimum 3 feet away from
open flame.
5. Any person is exempt from Prohibition 1 (above) when using a wood burning stove equipped
with a chimney, minimum 5-foot height, spark arresting screen consisting of ¼-inch mesh
hardware cloth and remove all flammable vegetation within a 5-foot radius, including
overhanging material.
6. Persons with a special use permit or contract from the Forest Service authorizing work within
the Closure Area, and their employees, sub-contractors, or agents are exempt from the
prohibitions listed above to the extent authorized by the special use permit or contract.
 

Violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual
or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both
(16 USC § 551 and 18 USC. §§ 3551, 3559, 3571, and 3581).
 

Executed at John Day, Oregon, this 15th day of July 2025.
_____________________________
Ann Niesen
Forest Supervisor
Malheur National Forest

EXHIBIT B
Designated Recreation Sites
 

PRAIRIE CITY RANGER
DISTRICT
• Big Creek Campground
• Crescent Campground
• Elk Creek Campground
• Little Crane Campground
• Murray Campground
• North Fork Malheur Campground
• Short Creek Guard Station
• Pine Creek Horse Camp
Campground
• Strawberry Basin Campground
• Lake Creek Youth Camp
• Trout Farm Campground
• Slide Creek Horse Camp

BLUE MOUNTAIN RANGER
DISTRICT
• Billy Fields Campground
• Deerhorn Campground
• Deer Creek Guard Station
• Dixie Campground
• Fall Mountain Lookout
• Head O’Boulder Forest Camp
• Lower Camp Creek Campground
• Magone Lake Campground**
• Middle Fork Campground
• Murderers Creek Cabin
• Oregon Mine Campground
• Parish Cabin Campground
• Sunshine Guard Station
• Starr Campground
• Wickiup Campground

Contact Number: