Information

Public Use Restrictions (PURS) are for smoking, off-road travel, internal combustion engines, generators, and chainsaw use. PURS are phased in collectively, as conditions warrant, and may differ from Forest to Forest. The Wallowa-Whitman has Phase A, B, and C Public Use Restrictions in addition to seasonal fire restrictions. 

Under Phase A: 

• Chainsaws may be operated only between the hours of 8 p.m. and 1 p.m. local time. A one-hour fire watch is required after saw operations cease. Saw operators are required to have an axe (minimum 2 lb. head, 26” length), shovel (8” wide, 26” length), and fire extinguisher (minimum ABC 8 oz.) in their possession. **Chainsaw operation associated with commercial and personal use firewood permits are regulated under the conditions of the permit and are not impacted by this public use restriction.
• Smoking is allowed only in enclosed vehicles, buildings or cleared areas.
• No off-road/off-trail vehicle travel or travel on roads not cleared of standing grass or other flammable material; no vehicle travel on those Forest Service roads where access has been impeded or blocked by earthen berm, logs, boulders, barrier, barricade or gate, or as otherwise identified in the Fire Order. Except for the purpose of traveling to and from a dispersed campsite with 300 feet of open and developed road. Vehicles must be parked in an area devoid of any vegetation and flammable material.

Under Phase B:

• Campfires are ONLY be allowed in designated campgrounds and recreation sites. Liquefied or bottled gas stoves and heaters are allowed for cooking and heating.  A list of designated recreation sites is available on each of the forest’s websites.
• Operating an internal combustion engine, such as a chainsaw, is prohibited without a valid permit. Commercial and personal use firewood permits are regulated by the conditions of the permit and separate from restrictions under this public use restriction.
• Generators will only be allowed in the center of an area at least 10 feet in diameter that is cleared of all flammable material, or; when fully contained within a pickup truck bed that is devoid of all flammable material, or; when factory installed in a recreational vehicle and the generator exhaust discharge is located in the center of an area at least 10 feet in diameter that is cleared of all flammable material.
• Smoking is only allowed within enclosed vehicles, buildings, and developed recreation sites or when stopped in an area cleared of all flammable material.

Under Phase C:

• Campfires are prohibited on the Forest. Use liquid and bottle (propane) gas stoves only.
• No internal combustion engine operation (including chainsaws), except for motorized vehicles.
  • Electrical generators operated under the following conditions are allowed:
    • in the center of an area at least 10 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material, or;
    • when fully contained within a pickup truck bed that is empty of all flammable material, or;
    • when factory installed in a recreational vehicle and the generator exhaust discharge is located in the center of an area at least 10 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.
• No off-road/off-trail vehicle travel or travel on roads not cleared of standing grass or other flammable material. Vehicle travel is never permitted on currently closed forest service roads where access has been impeded or blocked by earthen berms, logs, boulders, barriers, barricades or gates, or as otherwise identified in a closure order.
• Smoking is allowed only in enclosed vehicles and buildings, developed recreation sites, or in cleared areas.

Visit the Alerts page or Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center for more information. 

Fire Prevention

Campfires, charcoal fires, and stoves must be attended at all times and completely extinguished prior to leaving. If there are no Public Use Restrictions, please follow these fire-safety rules and recommendations to help you #RecreateResponsibly:
• Keep a shovel and a gallon of water on hand to extinguish your fire before leaving it.

• Fires should be drowned & stirred (and drowned & stirred again) until coals are cool enough to touch.

• Keep campfires and charcoal briquette fires contained in an earthen pit, metal fire ring, or rock ring, with all combustible material removed within a 5-foot radius of the perimeter of the fire ring - and clear of overhanging material.

• Portable cooking stoves and portable fireplaces should also have combustible material removed within a 5-foot radius. Wood burning stoves should be equipped with a chimney at least 5-feet in length and a spark-arresting screen consisting of ¼-inch mesh hardware cloth.

• Campfires are restricted in the Eagle Cap Wilderness to reduce impacts on lakes. Please review the rules on the back of your Wilderness permit. 

IFPL stands for Industrial Fire Precaution Level. It's a system used by the Forest Service to regulate work activities and prevent wildfires by adjusting the level of precaution needed based on fire danger. This system helps control activities like commercial firewood cutting and other industrial operations to minimize the risk of ignition.

Visit the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center for more information about IFPL levels in surrounding areas.