Fire

Current wildfire information

About the Fire Protection Program

As Oregon’s largest fire department, ODF's Fire Protection Program protects 16 million acres of forest, a $60 billion asset. These lands consist of privately owned forests as well as some public lands, including state-owned forests and, by contract, US Bureau of Land Management forests in western Oregon. ODF is also part of an extensive fire protection network that includes landowner resources, contract crews and aircraft, adults in custody crews, and agreements with public agencies across Oregon, the US, and British Columbia.

ODF's firefighting policy is straightforward: Put out fires quickly at the smallest possible size. Most of the lands protected by the agency are working forests that produce revenue and support jobs. It is crucial to prevent fire damage to the timber resource that is an essential element of Oregon’s economy. This aggressive approach to firefighting also safeguards ecosystem values such as fish and wildlife habitats.

Fire season funding

ODF's wildfire budget is complex, reflecting the diversity of the forest resource and its ownership. Multiple sources fund the work of ODF’s Fire Protection Division that include fire prevention and education as well as firefighting.

Forest landowners pay a Forest Patrol Assessment to the state. The state’s General Fund matches the landowners’ portion.
The Oregon Forest Land Protection Fund (OFLPF) helps pay for additional aircraft, heavy equipment and personnel when large fires require resources beyond the capability of ODF field districts. The OFLPF is funded entirely by landowners.
During extreme fire conditions, ODF seeks access to a Legislative Special-Purpose Appropriation (SPA) to obtain additional firefighting resources. The SPA dollars come from the state's General Fund. Grants through various federal programs provide additional support.
A private insurance policy helps cover firefighting expenses when all other funding sources have been expended.

Related laws & rules

OAR 629-041: Protection Administration

Includes: Actual cost formulas, cost limitations, appeals and hearings before the state board of forestry, procedures for contracts, agreements and renewals, confidentiality and inadmissibility of mediation communications, administration, Forest protection district boundaries: Central Oregon, Coos, Douglas, Klamath-Lake, North Cascade, Northeast Oregon, Northwest Oregon, South Cascade, Southwest Oregon, Walker Range, West Oregon, Western Lane

OAR 629-042: Fire Control

Includes: Forest protection plans, liability of forestland owner or operator; further defined

OAR 629-043: Fire Prevention

Includes: Snag falling, spark arresters, water supply and equipment for fire suppression, additional water supply and equipment, fire tools and fire extinguishers, operation area fire prevention, fire watch service, power saws, burning permits, slash hazard release, payment for additional fire hazard, operation closedown, permits to use fire or power-driven machinery, additional fire hazard

OAR 629-047: Enforcement Policy

Includes: Basic enforcement action, fire prevention citation issuance and enforcement limitations, records, enforcement policies for ORS

OAR 629-160: Emergency Fire Cost Committee Procedural Rules

Includes: Administrative rule notification, model rules of procedure

OAR 629-170: Firefighter Criminal Defense Expenditures

Includes: Request for reimbursement of defense costs, state forester’s investigation, determination of eligibility for reimbursement, funding, written agreement; terms of reimbursement, special case

ORS 476: State Fire Marshal, Protection From Fire

Includes: State Fire Marshal, protection from fire

ORS 477: Fire Protection of Forests and Vegetation

Includes: Smoke Management Plan, fire prevention, burn permits, smoke management burn fees

ORS 478: Rural Fire Protection Districts

Includes: Rural fire protection districts, protection from fire

Resources

Contact

Fire Protection Division
2600 State Street
Salem, OR 97310
Email