May 13, 2026 3:40 a.m. 

The Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District will officially declare the start of fire season this Friday.

Public Information Officer Natalie Weber said the fire danger will be Low and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level will be 1. Weber said lands affected by this declaration include 1.8 million acres of state, private, county, city and Bureau of Land Management forestlands in Jackson and Josephine counties.

The ODFW release said while winter and spring rains are on track for a slightly below normal water year, snowpack across the state and local landscape is minimal, and drought conditions across both counties are contributing to dry vegetation and an increased risk for fires to start and spread earlier in the year. As conditions continue to trend toward warmer summer-like weather, fire risk and behavior will naturally increase.

Weber said the beginning of fire season and low fire danger brings regulations. A number of activities are known to cause fires and will be prohibited with the start of fire season.

Complete details on fire season regulations are listed at: www.swofire.com