Burns Interagency Fire Zone

04/17/2026

‼️ SUMMER JOB OPPORTUNITY ‼️�

💰Looking for great wages and outdoor work for the season? Paid travel? A start to your career in wildland fire? This could be the best summer of your life!�

✔️Apply for Camp Crew by May 13, 2026!

* Camp Crew workers are hired-when-needed during wildfire emergencies to support firefighter base camps.
* Duties are basic – set up/take down temporary facilities, load/unload supplies, clean-up.
* Must be 16 years old by June 15, in good physical health, and able to pass drug and background checks to qualify.
Applications are available at Burns and Crane high schools, BICC Dispatch, and Silvies River Charter School. No experience necessary.�

ℹ️(541) 573-4545

04/16/2026

🔥Even though it doesn’t feel like fire season…this is what’s possible!

Our first wildfire of the year happened earlier this week - the Diamond Swamp Fire, reported April 14 on the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, burned 257 acres! The fire was human-caused; no additional details are available at this time.

Swampy terrain made direct attack difficult, and winds kept the fire active overnight. Thanks to recent rain and snow, activity has slowed, with only a few smokes visible.

✅ Be safe out there. Fire season is closer than you think!

📸 Photos by D. Shoun, R. Hussey, and D. Johnson.

04/15/2026

The 2026 Rangeland Fire Protection Association Summit is in the books!

✅ This year’s two-day meeting - held April 1 and 2 - brought folks together from across Oregon to share updates, swap lessons learned, and gear up for the 2026 fire season. The agenda included leadership and program updates, a fire season outlook, grant and funding opportunities, partner success stories, and hands-on breakout sessions covering equipment, administration, and fuel mitigation.

RFPAs are truly “neighbors helping neighbors.” These private, nonprofit organizations play a critical role in preventing and suppressing fires on lands without federal or state protection, and they’re often the first on scene when wildfire strikes.

😍 We’re especially proud of the seven RFPAs right here in Harney County: Crane, Silver Creek, Lone Pine, Frenchglen, Fields/Andrews, North Harney, and Wagontire.

Across Oregon, more than 25 RFPAs help protect over 16 million acres - an incredible example of community-based wildfire response in action.

📸 D. Shoun

04/13/2026

It’s about time for the 2026 TUMBLEWEED TAKEDOWN!

We’re gearing up to toast tumbleweeds along a few fence lines in southern Harney County this week (or next...weather dependent).

🤔 Did you know? These rolling troublemakers…

• spread hundreds of seeds every time they tumble
• are highly flammable, which means major wildfire fuel
• can damage crops by drying soil and spreading pests and disease
• pile up and block wildlife movement routes

03/20/2026

Heads up out there! It's only March and already SO dry in many areas. Be safe with fire!

👇👇👇👇

02/12/2026

📣 WE'RE HIRING!

Apply by February 24 at: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/857258300

02/11/2026

Yahoo!! Teamwork!

We recently transferred a Type 6 fire engine to the Lone Pine Rangeland Fire Protection Association, strengthening local wildfire response in eastern Oregon.

RFPAs are local, nonprofit groups that help prevent and suppress fires on unprotected lands. They are often among the first on scene when a wildfire starts.

This engine will help the Lone Pine RFPA protect nearby communities, ranches, and public lands.

02/10/2026

🔥 Pile burning continues today near Burns Butte, just west of town. You may see some smoke - but it’s all part of the plan!

🚒 BIFZ firefighters and partners are working together to reduce fuels and help protect local communication infrastructure from future wildfires.

Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/4rBrqfM

02/09/2026

We're still pile burning! Nearly 7,000 acres completed with only a few more units to go!

📸 Joe Drinkwater, BIFZ; slash piles in the Bess Lake unit on north Steens Mountain

02/03/2026

✅ Post-fire rehab!

BIFZ staff recently completed some post-fire rehabilitation work on the Mapes Fire near Denio, fully restoring a former fire break by decompacting the soil and pulling brush back into place. The dozer line is now nearly invisible! (Photos are before and during rehab.)

Post-fire rehab like this helps stabilize soils, restore habitat, prevent invasive weeds, and repair infrastructure – all supporting long-term recovery after wildfire.

📸 Ben Nichols, BIFZ

01/05/2026

🏆By a giant margin of ONE vote, "Goose Chase" is the winner of our 2025 Best Fire Name contest!

"Grumpy" was a very close runner up and "Screeching Eagle" landed the bronze.

We'll track down the folks who brought "Goose Chase" to life and reward them handsomely! Thanks to everyone who played along!

12/30/2025

👉 LET’S VOTE: BEST FIRE NAME OF 2025! 👈

As we wrap up the year, it’s time to look back 'by the numbers,' and then have a little fun!

🔥2025 Fire Stats Snapshot – 91 fires total with a whopping 716.65 acres burned
🔥Where - USFS: 45 fires, BLM: 30 fires, Private: 12 fires, Private/BLM: 3 fires, USFWS: 1 fire
🔥Acres burned by agency – BLM: 602.61, Private/BLM: 142.75, Private: 55.53, USFS: 24.41, USFWS: 0.1

Not exactly a real rager of a fire year, but after 2024, we’ll take it.

Now for the fun part! Wildfire names usually come from nearby landmarks – roads, creeks, mountains, trails, or towns – and sometimes they’re created on the fly by dispatch or the first folks on scene. Some names are straightforward… and some are more...creative.

👉 Cast your vote! What was the BEST BIFZ FIRE NAME of 2025?
....SCREECHING EAGLE....BARN CAT....GOOSE CHASE....BAD WATER....GOBBLER....BENT TREE....WIFF....GRUMPY....SPITE....BULLSEYE

Let's see your votes in the comments!

(Sorry, can't create an actual poll because FB removed that feature from this kind of page years ago. Boo.)