Douglas Forest Protective Association

08/19/2026

HAPPENING NOW | Mt. Reuben Fire. 7PM- Final Update

Due to the fire’s location within the Glendale Fire District and the significant progress made by responding resources, command of the fire is being turned over to the local rural fire department.

DFPA will remain on scene to assist as needed.

This will be the final update shared by DFPA regarding this fire.
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6 PM Update - August 18

The official name of this fire is the Mt. Reuben Fire.

At this time, all forward spread has been knocked down, with an estimated 40% of the fire dozer trailed. Crews will continue progress and transition into mop-up. DFPA's fixed-wing air attack has been released from the fire.

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5:30 PM - August 18

Crews, including DFPA's dozer are continuing to make good progress creating a trail around the fire. DFPA's helicopter has been released. No homes or structures are threatened at this time.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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5:00 PM — August 18

Glendale, Ore.

DFPA and rural fire department crews are currently on scene and engaged in initial attack on an estimated 2-acre vegetation fire near the 400 block of Reuben Road in Glendale.

Ground and aerial resources are making good progress on both flanks of the fire.

More information will be shared as it becomes available.

08/17/2026

DFPA NEWS RELEASE: Burnt Mountain Access Road Fire

TENMILE, ORE.: On Sunday, August 16, 2026, at approximately 2:34 p.m., crews from the Douglas Forest Protective Association (DFPA), Lookingglass Rural Fire District, and Tenmile Rural Fire District responded to a report of a natural cover fire near the Coos Bay Wagon Road and Burnt Mountain Road crossing, approximately 8.3 miles northwest of Tenmile, Oregon.

Upon arrival, firefighters located a large stump fire with slow spread into nearby slash between the gravel road and timberline along Burnt Mountain Road. Ground crews quickly knocked down the forward spread, completed mop-up of the area, and transitioned to patrol status.

DFPA’s fixed-wing air attack and contracted Type 2 helicopter were utilized to scan the surrounding area for additional fire starts. No additional fires were located.

The fire was contained at 1/100th of an acre.

No homes or structures were threatened by this fire.

The cause of this fire remains under investigation.

PUBLIC SAFETY MESSAGE

DFPA reminds the public to know current fire restrictions before recreating outdoors. Campfires are restricted during fire season and only permitted in designated locations. Use caution when driving or parking in dry, cured grass, as hot vehicle components can ignite vegetation. Properly maintain vehicles and equipment, and check for dragging chains or other sources of heat and sparks.

Tracer ammunition and explosive targets are restricted during fire season.

Smoking while traveling is also restricted, except in vehicles on improved roads, boats on the water, and designated locations. Never discard smoking materials onto the ground or into dry vegetation and always extinguish them completely.

Know before you go. Prevent wildfires.

08/14/2026

Information Share.

08/11/2026

DFPA NEWS RELEASE: The Douglas Forest Protective Association (DFPA) has responded to multiple Public Use Restriction violations in the past week, including prohibited debris burning.

This is a reminder to the public that violations will result in citations and fines. If an unauthorized fire escapes, causes damage or requires firefighting resources, you may be responsible for damages and suppression costs.

A VIOLATION WILL FOLLOW YOU FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS.

All violations are tracked statewide.

FIRE DANGER LEVEL CHANGE

Due to decreased temperatures and improved overnight moisture recovery, the fire danger level and public use restrictions will decrease to HIGH, effective 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, for all private, county, state, and Bureau of Indian Affairs lands within the Douglas District.

What does this change mean to the public?

With the fire danger level changing to HIGH, certain activities that were previously prohibited will now be allowed during specific hours.

Non-industrial power saw usage, the cutting, grinding, or welding of metal, the cutting, trimming, or mowing of dried, cured grass, and power-driven machinery for non-industrial improvement or development on private property will now be allowed BEFORE 10 AM or AFTER 8 PM.

There is no change to the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL). IFPL will remain at LEVEL 3 district wide.

08/11/2026

08/13 DFPA Update — Harness (1310) Fire

We have received multiple inquiries regarding the status of this fire.

In DFPA’s original response, we referred to the incident as the Big Baldy Fire. Once the exact location was established, it was determined that the fire was located within the ODF South Cascade District. Command was transferred, and the official fire name was changed to Harness (1310) for internal administrative tracking purposes.

DFPA continued to provide mutual response and initial attack support.

Crews successfully stopped the forward spread of the fire on the day of ignition, August 11, 2026. Crews then worked through the night and successfully trailed 100% the fire, allowing the incident to transition into the mop-up phase.

Crews will continue mop-up operations until the fire is ready to transition into patrol status.

The mapped size of this fire is 25 acres.

This will be the final update for this fire provided by DFPA.

Please direct all media inquries to ODF South Cascade directly.
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UPDATE: BIG BALDY FIRE / HARNESS FIRE
Approximately 16 miles south of Cottage Grove, Oregon

With an accurate location determined, this fire's jurisdiction falls within the Oregon Department of Forestry - South Cascade. Command has been transferred. DFPA will continue to remain engaged in initital attack on the fire, but future updates for fire information will be handled by the South Cascade district.

All media inquiries should be directed to ODF directly as well.

Current combined resources on the incident include 15 engines, 2 water tenders, 1 dozer, multiple helicopters, and DFPA's fixed wing air attack.

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ORIGINAL POST
The Douglas Forest Protective Association (DFPA) is currently responding to the Big Baldy Fire, an estimated 5-acre wildfire burning in a reproductive timber unit approximately 16 miles south of Cottage Grove.

The fire is located within a mutual aid response area, with resources from DFPA and the Oregon Department of Forestry - South Cascade District working to gain access to the fire.

Resources responding include aviation, engines, dozers and overhead command staff.

DFPA Air Attack is currently over the fire conducting aerial reconnaissance. Air Attack reports the fire is showing moderate spread at this time.

There are currently no reported threats to homes or structures.

Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.

08/07/2026

We've been receiving a lot of questions about the use of battery-powered equipment during EXTREME Fire Danger. Here's some clarification.

ALLOWED ALL DAY:
• Battery-powered string trimmers (w**d eaters) with plastic line
• Battery-powered chainsaws

RESTRICTED DURING EXTREME FIRE DANGER:
• Battery-powered lawn mowers

Why the difference?

While battery-powered equipment doesn't have a hot exhaust system or produce engine sparks, the type of cutting surface still matters.

Battery-powered chainsaws are generally used to cut limbs, trees, and brush that are above the ground. When used appropriately, the chain is not likely to strike rocks or other hard objects that can create sparks. In addition, our fire investigation data in the Douglas District has not identified any wildfires caused by the proper use of a battery-powered chainsaw.

Battery-powered lawn mowers, however, use metal blades that operate directly on the ground. Those blades can strike rocks, metal, or other hard objects hidden in dry vegetation, creating sparks capable of igniting cured grasses. This is a well-documented cause of wildfires.

In fact, the largest fire on DFPA-protected lands this year—29 acres—was caused by mowing.

Looking back, the 2015 Stouts Creek Fire, which burned 26,449 acres, was also determined to have been caused by mowing.

As conditions become hotter and drier, even a single spark can have devastating consequences. Please understand that these restrictions are based on documented fire causes, real-world experience, and reducing the risk of preventable wildfires.

If you're ever unsure whether a piece of equipment is allowed under current restrictions, contact DFPA before you begin your work. We'd much rather answer your questions than respond to another wildfire.

08/03/2026

Information share

Effective immediately, Umpqua National Forest has expanded the closure area due to fire activity on the Castle Fire. Expanded closure order #06-15-02-26-01 is necessary to protect the public and provide a safe environment for firefighters. With increased vehicle traffic in the area from firefighting personnel, expanding the closure is necessary to reduce the risk of accidents and ensure emergency firefighting operations can continue safely and efficiently.

To see the full closure order visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/umpqua/alerts/castle-fire-closure

Roads impacted by this closure, as indicated on the closure area map, include National Forest Service Roads 28, 27, and 2781.

Closed Popular Recreation Areas Include:
- South Umpqua Falls Day Use Area
- South Umpqua Falls Campground
- Buckhead Campground
- Camp Comfort Campground
- Castle Creek Trailhead
- Beaver Swamp Trailhead
- Lakes Trailhead
- Fish Lake Trailhead
- Skimmerhorn Trailhead
- Fish Lake
- Whitehorse Meadows Trailhead
- Acker Divide Trailhead
- Happy Camp Trailhead

08/03/2026

CORRECTION: The Douglas Forest Protective Association is retracting the Public Service Announcement (PSA) issued earlier this morning and replacing it with the attached updated version.
The increase to Extreme Public Use Restrictions will become effective Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 12:01 p.m. (noon).

PUBLIC USE RESTRICTION LEVEL INCREASE: EXTREME

DFPA NEWS RELEASE: Due to an increase in temperatures, decreased relative humidity, and critically dry fuel moisture conditions, effective Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 12:01 p.m. (NOON), the Fire Danger Level and Public Use Restriction Level will increase to EXTREME for all private, county, state, and Bureau of Indian Affairs lands within the Douglas District.

Industrial Fire Precaution Levels (IFPL) on lands protected by the Douglas Forest Protective Association (DFPA) within the Douglas District will remain at IFPL LEVEL 3 in regulated use areas DG-1, DG-2, UA-1, UA-2, and all forestland within one-eighth mile thereof.

What does this change mean to the public?

The following activities are now PROHIBITED on protected lands within the Douglas District:
• Non-industrial power saw use
• Cutting, grinding, or welding of metal
• Cutting, trimming, or mowing dried or cured grass
• Operation of power-driven machinery for non-industrial improvement or development projects on private property

The State Forester or an authorized representative may, in writing, approve a modification or waiver of these requirements. These restrictions will remain in effect until replaced or terminated by an additional Closedown Order issued by the State Forester or an authorized representative.

Fire Season Public Safety Reminders

As fire danger reaches EXTREME, everyone has a responsibility to help prevent human-caused wildfires.

Please remember:
• Never park or drive over dry grass. A vehicle's hot exhaust system or catalytic converter can ignite dry vegetation in seconds.
• Maintain your vehicle and trailer. Inspect for dragging safety chains, worn brakes, leaking fluids, and other mechanical issues that could produce sparks or start a fire.
• Open fires are PROHIBITED, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires, and warming fires, except in designated locations where allowed.
• Debris burning is PROHIBITED, including the use of burn barrels.
• Fireworks, tracer ammunition, and exploding targets are PROHIBITED on protected lands.
• Dispose of smoking materials properly. Never discard ci******es or other smoking materials onto the ground or from a moving vehicle.
• Know before you go. Check current fire restrictions and obey all posted closures and regulations before recreating outdoors.
• Report smoke immediately by calling 9-1-1. Prompt reporting allows firefighters to respond quickly and increases the chances of keeping fires small.

With hot temperatures, low humidity, and dry fuels, a single spark can quickly become a fast-moving wildfire. Every fire prevented helps protect lives, homes, forests, and the firefighters who respond.

Maps of the affected area may be viewed at the State Forester's Office in Salem, Oregon, and at principal offices of the Forest Protection District. Definitions of words and phrases used in this proclamation may be found in ORS 477.001 and OAR 629-041-0005.

For additional information, visit www.dfpa.net, follow the Douglas Forest Protective Association on Facebook (Douglas Forest Protective Association) and Instagram (), or contact the DFPA office at (541) 672-6507.