WildfireFriday, November 6
Oregon closes a record wildfire season, and Grants Pass' open-burn window ends Sunday
The Daily Grants Pass team
If you burn yard debris, here's your window. The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) closed the 2026 wildfire season Wednesday after more than 2.5 million acres burned statewide. That tops the roughly 1.93 million acres documented in 2024.
Closer to home, ODF's Southwest Oregon District ended fire season in Jackson and Josephine counties Oct. 28, after 166 days. Crews responded to 210 fires there, burning about 17,220 acres. A Florida team took command of the East Evans Creek Fire under a state-to-state agreement.
Crews kept 95% of local fires to 10 acres or less
95%Fires in Jackson and Josephine counties held to 10 acres or less
Sources: Grants Pass Tribune, KOBI-TV NBC5 / KOTI-TV NBC2
View as table
| Value | |
|---|---|
| Fires in Jackson and Josephine counties held to 10 acres or less | 95% |
| ODF goal | 98% |
- Grants Pass open-burn window: through Sun., Nov. 8
- Yard debris in city limits: permit and ventilation index of 400 or higher
- Slash burning: permit required year-round statewide
Fire season ran from mid-May to early November
- May 15ODF declares fire season in Jackson and Josephine counties
- Oct. 28Jackson and Josephine counties end fire season at 12:01 a.m.
- Nov. 4ODF announces every district has lifted its seasonal fire restrictions
- Nov. 8Grants Pass' fall open-burn window ends
Fires can still start in fall and winter, and ODF says conditions can turn dry or windy. We suggest checking the Josephine County Burn Line at (541) 476-9663 before you light anything, and never leaving a burn pile unattended.