State Forest Visitors Benefit From Law Enforcement And ODF Partnerships (Photo) -05/22/25

TILLAMOOK STATE FOREST, Ore.—A special long-term partnership between the Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) recreation staff and local law enforcement agencies helps to improve the safety, education and overall experience for people visiting Oregon’s state forests.

“Our number one priority is the safety of everyone who visits the forest,” said Tillamook County Sheriff’s Deputy Billy Cloud.  “The best way to improve safety is through education and every day we are talking with people helping them understand the rules and best practices to minimize risks and improve safety.”

The vast majority of people visiting the Tillamook State Forest will have an enjoyable time hiking, biking, camping or riding because of the work of ODF’s recreation staff.

“We work hard to build, maintain and improve our trials, campgrounds and other recreational areas to provide the safest, most enjoyable experiences possible,” said Joe Offer, ODF’s Recreation, Education and Interpretation Program Manager. “I believe we provide the best outdoor experience in Oregon for the most people—and all at a reasonable cost.”

The benefit of these efforts is evidenced by the relatively few problems that occur in Tillamook State Forest. The temperate rain forest is just 40 miles from Portland and draws large numbers of visitors throughout the year. Those visitors use off-highway vehicle (OHV), mountain bike, equestrian and hiking trails, as well as developed campgrounds and managed dispersed camping areas, to enjoy 364,000 acres of the state forest.

With that many visitors there are sometimes a few guests that cause problems.

“The most common incidents on the forest involve those under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but range from arguments over reservations, to parking issues or noise complaints,” said Offer.  “If our limited staff, which includes four full time, five seasonal, and 10 volunteer camp hosts, are not able to resolve and de-escalate a situation we contact the deputies. Our top priority is always the safety of our guests and staff.”

There are three Tillamook County deputies that work in the Tillamook State Forest thanks to a grant through Oregon State Parks. Those grant funds come from all-terrain vehicle (ATV) user permit sales and a percentage of gasoline tax money.  The county has applied for and received the grant for more than 25 years. Throughout the year, the deputies and ODF staff meet regularly to discuss and solve problems. One area always discussed is OHV safety.

“We spend a lot of time with the OHV folks,” said Cloud.  “There are three main things we look for and help people understand: helmet laws for those under 18, equipment requirements especially spark arrestors on OHVs, and current permits or safety cards.”

DOT-approved helmets are required for youth under age 18 for all ATVs.  ATVs on public lands must also have an adequate muffler to limit sound emissions to 99 dBA and spark arrestors to prevent wildfires.  Permits must be displayed on ATVs and operators need a current safety card.

“We do not want to write citations,” said Cloud.  “We do want compliance, so folks stay safe while they are out in the forest.  However, if someone is riding under the influence or commits another crime they will be arrested.”

ODF staff and deputies work together on other law enforcement issues including vandalism, illegal dumping, criminal activity, abandoned vehicles and non-recreational campers.

A safe and enjoyable visit is the top goal of ODF staff and the deputies but sometimes people do not realize the challenges they face when visiting the forest.

“My advice, and I can’t stress this enough, is use some common sense,” said Cloud.  “If you haven’t been hiking in a couple of years then don’t start off trying to hike a long 10-to-20 mile trail that you have never been on. And, no, just because you are tired doesn’t mean you can ask for a rescue helicopter to take you back to the parking lot.  True story, just this spring.”

The other common-sense issue some people fail to realize is their cell phones and other devices likely won’t have a connection in many areas of Oregon’s state forests.

“Most ODF staff vehicles have radios, and the deputies all have radios, so if you do need help be sure to contact one of us,” said Offer.

The good working relationship between Tillamook County Sherrif’s Office and the ODF staff is just one part of keeping state forests safe.

“All of our state forests combined cross the boundaries of 15 counties,” said Offer. “I want to personally thank all the law enforcement agencies and search and rescue teams we work with that help make Oregonians’ visits to their state forests as safe as possible.”

For more on state forest recreational opportunities see: Oregon Department of Forestry : Recreation, education & interpretation : Recreation, education & interpretation : State of Oregon

For more on riding ATVs on public land: Oregon Parks and Recreation : All-Terrain Vehicles In Oregon : Ride ATVs : State of Oregon

Oregon Department Of Forestry Invites Media To Aerial Firefighting Training -05/22/25

What: The Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) South Cascade District is inviting media to their aerial firefighting training, which will include the use of Weyerhaeuser aerial resources.

Background: On May 29, the ODF South Cascade District will be conducting an introduction to aerial firefighting for ground firefighters with a training component in the field. This training gives our boots on the ground the opportunity to meet the pilots, become familiar with working with aircraft, see what the capabilities are, and get practical experience in air-to-ground communications. The biggest benefit of this training is getting ground trainees a chance to work one-on-one with aircraft outside of an actual fire. In addition to meeting the pilots and training with live aircraft outside of a fire, firefighters will have a chance for feedback and questions from pilots during an after-action review (AAR).

Details and Visuals: Media will meet the PIOs at the ODF Springfield Unit office at 9 a.m. At 9:30 a.m., we will depart the office and caravan out to training location on Weyerhaeuser’s property. There is not an exact address for where the training will be held, so please be on time to not miss the caravan.

Visuals will include ground operations and aerial operations. At this time, there are two Type 3 helicopters from Weyerhaeuser confirmed for the training and there will be approximately 20 ground trainees. The aircraft will practice bucket drops with the ground firefighters practicing communication with the pilots. At the end of the training, pilots will participate in an AAR with ground firefighters.

There will be several opportunities for interviews throughout the day with trainees and instructors.

When: Thursday, May 29, 2025

Starting Location: ODF Springfield Unit Office, 3150 Main St, Springfield, OR 97478

Secondary Location: Weyerhaeuser

Time: 9:00-9:30 a.m. at ODF Springfield Unit Office
           10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Weyerhaeuser property

PPE: Media will need a hard hat and high visibility shirt. If you do not have these, let us know at time of RSVP so we may supply it.

Please RSVP by emailing Jessica Neujahr, jessica.neujahr@odf.oregon.gov.

Board Of Forestry To Meet On June 4 And 5 -05/22/25

SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Board of Forestry will meet starting at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, June 4, and Thursday, June 5. The meetings will be held in the Tillamook Room, Building C, at the Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters, located at 2600 State St. in Salem. The meetings are open to the public and will also be livestreamed on the department’s YouTube channel.

The board’s business agenda for June 4 includes:

• Legislative session update
• Review of suggested edits to state forester recruitment materials
• Approval of designated individual to support state forester recruitment
• Wildfire outlook and response readiness
• Central Oregon and Northeast Oregon District boundary change
• Approval of forest protection association budgets
• Board of Forestry Governance Committee update
• Forestland conversion presentation

The agenda for June 5 includes:

• State forests modeled outcomes discussion with the Forest Trust Land Advisory Committee (FTLAC)

The full agenda is available on the board’s webpage. Live testimony is available on both days. Signing up for live testimony is required, and instructions are available online. Written testimony will also be accepted. Written comments can be submitted before or up to two weeks after the meeting day by mail to the Board Support Office, 2600 State St., Salem, OR 97310 or email to boardofforestry@odf.oregon.gov. Please include the appropriate agenda item and topic with the submission.

Accommodations for people with disabilities, and special materials, services, or assistance can be arranged by calling ODF’s Public Affairs Office at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting at 503-945-7200 or by email at forestryinformation@odf.oregon.gov.

The Oregon Board of Forestry consists of seven citizens nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the Oregon Senate. Responsibilities include appointing the State Forester, setting management direction for state-owned forests, adopting rules governing timber harvest and other practices on private forestland, and promoting sustainable management of Oregon’s 30-million-acre forestland base. Read more information about the board.

Forest Trust Land Advisory Committee Meets May 23 -05/21/25

SALEM, Ore. — The Forest Trust Land Advisory Committee meets Friday, May 23 at 10 a.m. at ODF headquarters in Salem, with a virtual option.

The public meeting will be held in the Tillamook Room at the Oregon Department of Forestry’s headquarters, 2600 State St., Salem. To join virtually, please use the Zoom video conference information found on the agenda.

Agenda items will include:

• Update on ODF engagement process for neighboring landowners
• Review of proposed forest modeling outcomes for Draft Forest Management Plan

Public comment is scheduled at the beginning of the meeting. To submit written comment, email ftlac.comment@odf.oregon.gov. Written comments sent at least 48 hours before the meeting will give the FTLAC time to review and consider information. Comments submitted after that window of time will be sent to the FTLAC after the meeting, entered into the record and posted online. Comments are not accepted after the meeting concludes.

The Forest Trust Land Advisory Committee is comprised of seven county commissioners representing 15 Oregon counties where state forestlands are located. The FTLAC is a statutorily established committee that advises the Board of Forestry on matters related to forestland managed by ODF. View more information on the FTLAC webpage.

Accommodations for people with disabilities, and special materials, services, or assistance can be arranged by calling at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting at 503-945-7200 or by email at forestryinformation@odf.oregon.gov.

Adults In Custody Trained And Ready To Help Fight Oregon’s Wildfires (Photo) -05/16/25

Tillamook State Forest, Ore.—More than 60 adults in custody (AICs) capped off a week of classroom wildland fire training with a hands-on field day at South Fork Forest Camp (SFFC) in the middle of the Tillamook State Forest this week.

The AICs rotated between four stations to demonstrate and improve critical skills they will use this summer when many of the 10-man crews deploy to battle wildfires and help protect people, buildings and forests, mainly in western Oregon. The training was conducted by Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) staff from SFFC, Tillamook and Forest Grove offices.

The four stations included: digging handline and proper use of wildland firefighting hand tools, laying hose and using a Mark 3 water pump, mop-up operations on the perimeter of a fire, and deployment of a personal emergency fire shelter.

“This group of 60 finished the initial entry level training course today,” said Dana Turner, Oregon Department of Forestry’s assistant camp manager. “Another 60 finished the refresher training course, called RT-130. So, all together we will have approximately 120 AICs ready for fire season.”

Those 120 AICs account for nearly everyone currently assigned to the camp. South Fork Forest Camp, which is jointly operated and funded by the Oregon Departments of Corrections and Forestry, is the only institution of its kind in Oregon and has been going strong for 74 years. To get to this fenceless minimum-security facility, AICs go through a selection committee while they are at other correctional institutions and need to have less than five years remaining on their sentence. The camp’s maximum capacity is 200.

In addition to firefighting, South Fork AICs work hard in Oregon’s state forests helping ODF with reforestation, maintenance on trails and campgrounds, road maintenance, construction projects, trash clean up and many other activities. However, it’s fire season many of the AICs look forward to.

“Being on a hand crew fighting a fire is a lot of work but very rewarding,” said Flynn Lovejoy, an AIC at the camp who is ready for his second fire season. “Whether it’s initial attack or mopping up while preforming well with your crew, it’s something you are proud of. Just knowing you are making a difference.”

South Fork crews did make a difference during last year’s fire season as they responded to 18 incidents and contributed 1,500 man-days fighting wildfires. 

Making a difference for the men who complete their sentences is also an important goal of camp staff.

“The skills and experience they get here help them now and in the future,” said Turner. “They can tell their kids they are firefighters and not just doing time. Then when they leave here, they have more opportunities. For example, we have multiple former AICs that went through South Fork that are working for ODF this year as seasonal firefighters. Others are also set up for success in finding jobs in other companies that use the skills they get here.”

And it’s not just the practical skills taught at South Fork, but the soft skills that help former AICs have a successful future.

“They have a unique opportunity to aid people in need and rebuild a connection to community while here,” said Jason Hanson, DOC superintendent of SFFC and the Columbia River Correctional Facility. “Whether it’s protecting communities from wildfire or using their CPR skills to help someone having a medical emergency in the forest, this sets the stage for them to not only leave institutional life but leave and reestablish successfully back in their communities.”

Hanson contributes SFFC’s success to both departments’ people.

“We have a great partnership here,” said Hanson. “The relationship between both departments is strong, as we strive to understand each other’s mission and work together all for the benefit of setting up the AICs for success after they leave here.”

For more on SFFC see: https://www.oregon.gov/odf/forestbenefits/pages/rehabilitation.aspx

https://www.oregon.gov/doc/about/pages/prison-locations.aspx

For wildfire prevention information see:

https://www.oregon.gov/odf/fire/pages/fireprevention.aspx

Regional Forest Practice Committee For Eastern Oregon Meets May 22 -05/15/25

SALEM, Ore. — The Regional Forest Practice Committee for eastern Oregon will meet at 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 22 at the WorkSource Oregon, 408 SE 7th Street in Pendleton. To join virtually, please use the Teams video conference information found on the agenda. To provide public comment, please email forestresources.committees@odf.oregon.gov.

The committee’s agenda includes:

• Division and agency updates
• HCP status
• Compliance Monitoring Project update
• Operator of the Year Program revisions
• All streams crossing technical guidance review & technical guidance update

The public may attend in-person or online via Teams. Public comments will be accepted. Accommodations for people with disabilities, and special materials, services, or assistance can be arranged by calling at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting at 503-945-7200 or by email at forestryinformation@odf.oregon.gov.

Regional Forest Practices Committees are panels of citizens – mandated under Oregon law – that advise the Oregon Board of Forestry and may assist the Board of Forestry in developing appropriate forest practice rules. The committees are comprised of citizens qualified by education or experience in natural resource management. In 1971, the legislature enacted Oregon’s Forest Practices Act which includes three Regional Forest Practices Committees, serving the Eastern, Northwest, and Southwest regions of the state. Under Oregon law, a majority of the committees’ members must be private forest landowners and logging or forest operations companies.

Oregon’s forests are among the state’s most valued resources, providing a balanced mix of environmental, economic, and social benefits. View more information on the RFPC webpage.

Regional Forest Practice Committee For Southwest Oregon Meets May 20 -05/13/25

SALEM, Ore. — The Regional Forest Practice Committee for southwest Oregon will meet at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 20 at the ODF Office, 87950 Territorial Hwy in Veneta. To join virtually, please use the Teams video conference information found on the agenda. To provide public comment, please email forestresources.committees@odf.oregon.gov.

The committee’s agenda includes:

• Division and agency updates
• HCP status
• Operator of the Year Program revisions
• Compliance Monitoring Project update
• All streams crossing technical guidance review & technical guidance update

The public may attend in-person or online via Teams. Public comments will be accepted. Accommodations for people with disabilities, and special materials, services, or assistance can be arranged by calling at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting at 503-945-7200 or by email at forestryinformation@odf.oregon.gov.

Regional Forest Practices Committees are panels of citizens – mandated under Oregon law – that advise the Oregon Board of Forestry and may assist the Board of Forestry in developing appropriate forest practice rules. The committees are comprised of citizens qualified by education or experience in natural resource management. In 1971, the legislature enacted Oregon’s Forest Practices Act which includes three Regional Forest Practices Committees, serving the Eastern, Northwest, and Southwest regions of the state. Under Oregon law, a majority of the committees’ members must be private forest landowners and logging or forest operations companies.

Oregon’s forests are among the state’s most valued resources, providing a balanced mix of environmental, economic, and social benefits. View more information on the RFPC webpage.

Regional Forest Practice Committee For Northwest Oregon Meets May 16 -05/12/25

SALEM, Ore. — The Regional Forest Practice Committee for northwest Oregon will meet at 9 a.m. on Friday, May 16 at in the Clatsop Room, Building C, at the Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters, located at 2600 State St. in Salem. To join virtually, please use the Teams video conference information found on the agenda. To provide public comment, please email forestresources.committees@odf.oregon.gov.

The committee’s agenda includes:

• Division and agency updates
• HCP status
• Compliance Monitoring Project update
• Operator of the Year Program revisions
• All streams crossing technical guidance review & technical guidance update

The public may attend in-person or online via Teams. Public comments will be accepted. Accommodations for people with disabilities, and special materials, services, or assistance can be arranged by calling at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting at 503-945-7200 or by email at forestryinformation@odf.oregon.gov.

Regional Forest Practices Committees are panels of citizens – mandated under Oregon law – that advise the Oregon Board of Forestry and may assist the Board of Forestry in developing appropriate forest practice rules. The committees are comprised of citizens qualified by education or experience in natural resource management. In 1971, the legislature enacted Oregon’s Forest Practices Act which includes three Regional Forest Practices Committees, serving the Eastern, Northwest, and Southwest regions of the state. Under Oregon law, a majority of the committees’ members must be private forest landowners and logging or forest operations companies.

Oregon’s forests are among the state’s most valued resources, providing a balanced mix of environmental, economic, and social benefits. View more information on the RFPC webpage.

Prevent Wildfires: Exercise Caution While Burning -05/12/25

SALEM, OR – The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and other fire prevention experts are urging everyone to exercise caution when disposing of yard debris this spring. There have already been 32 escaped debris burns reported on ODF-protected land in 2025, nearly double the amount compared to this time last year. The average size of a spring escaped debris burn is about one acre, or the size of a football field, and generally requires suppression from the local fire protection agency.

Over seventy-five percent of wildfires in Oregon are human caused, with escaped debris burns topping the list. With forecasters becoming increasingly confident that this season will be hotter and drier than normal, now is the time to practice wildfire prevention. As grass and vegetation begin to dry out, the risk of a fire creeping away from a debris burn pile increases. Make sure to weigh your options and have all of the fire prevention tools in place before lighting the burn pile or incinerator.

Besides burning, preferable options for brush removal include composting or recycling. Check with your local disposal company for recycling options.  

But if burning now is the only option to dispose of yard debris, fire prevention specialists ask people to follow safe burning practices.

• Call before you burn—Regulations vary by location. Call your local district, fire protective association, fire department, or air protection authority to learn about current burning restrictions or regulations, and if you need a permit.
   
• Know the weather—Burn early in the day and never burn on windy days, because fires can spread out of control more easily.
   
• Always have water and fire tools nearby—When burning, have a shovel and charged water hose or a bucket of water on hand to put out the fire.
   
• Clear a 10-foot fuel-free buffer around the pile—Make sure there are no tree branches or power lines above.
   
• Keep burn piles small—Large burn piles can cast hot embers long distances. Keep piles small, maximum of four feet by four feet. Add debris to the pile in small amounts as the pile burns.
   
• Burn only yard debris—State laws prohibit burning materials, treated wood or trash that create dense smoke or noxious odors.
   
• Never use gasoline or other flammable or combustible liquids to start or speed up your fire.
   
• Stay with the fire from start to finish—NEVER leave your debris burn unattended. State law requires monitoring debris burn piles at all times, until it is out cold. This law is intended to ensure sparks or embers that jump from the fire can be put out quickly.
   
• Put the fire out cold/completely—Drown the pile with water, stir the coals, and drown again, repeating until the fire is cool to the touch.
   
• Recheck burn piles—Return to the burn site periodically over several weeks to check for heat or smoke and refrain from adding new yard debris on top of old ashes. Burn piles can retain heat for several weeks and rekindle when the weather warms up and winds blow.
   
• Costs of run-away debris burns—State law requires the proper clearing, building, attending and extinguishing of open fires all year. If your debris burn spreads out of control, you may have to pay for suppression costs, as well as the damage to your neighbors’ properties, which can be extremely expensive.

As the summer fire season quickly approaches, consider putting off any burning until next fall or winter, when conditions are more favorable. Just cover a portion of the pile with plastic, such as a tarp, to keep dry until you decide to burn. Delaying your burn plans will give the debris more time to cure and prevent spring holdover fires.

More tips on wildfire prevention, including campfire safety, motorized equipment use, and fire-resistant landscaping can be found on the Keep Oregon Green website. Find public use restrictions for Oregon Department of Forestry protected lands before your burn.

State Forests Advisory Committee Hosts Field Tour May 15, Meets May 16 In Astoria -05/08/25

SALEM, Ore. – The State Forests Advisory Committee will host a tour of forestland in the Clatsop State Forest on May 15 and meet on May 16 in Astoria and the meeting will have a virtual option via Teams.

The public is welcome at both events. The field tour agenda and meeting agenda are posted on the SFAC webpage.

Details

Field tour: Meets at 9 a.m. on May 15 at the Jewell Wildlife Meadows Area. RSVP is requested for the field tour so that attendees can be provided safety equipment. Tour attendees should provide their own lunch, refreshments and transportation suitable for traveling on forest roads. Please RSVP no later than 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 13 to Emily Shook at emily.j.shook@odf.oregon.gov.

SFAC meeting: The committee will meet from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 16, at the ODF Astoria District Office, 92219 Highway 202. Topics on the agenda include an update on the FY2026 Annual Operations Plans, performance measures, and financial/legislative/FMP/HCP updates. The public will have the opportunity to provide comments virtually or in person at the beginning of the meeting.

SFAC’s role

The State Forests Advisory Committee (SFAC) is comprised of citizens and representatives of timber, environmental and recreation groups as well as a representative from Oregon’s Native American tribes. The SFAC provides a forum to discuss issues, opportunities and concerns, and offer advice and guidance to ODF on the implementation of the Northwest Oregon State Forests Management Plan. The plan provides guidance for managing 616,000 acres within the Tillamook, Clatsop and Santiam State Forests, and several scattered state-owned forest tracts in Benton, Polk, Lincoln and Lane counties through a balanced approach to generate revenue while prioritizing environmental and social benefits.

Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. Questions about accessibility or special accommodation for the meeting can be directed to the Oregon Department of Forestry at 503-983-3761.

MEDIA ADVISORY: Adults In Custody To Receive Firefighting Training At South Fork Forest Camp May 14 (Photo) -05/08/25

What: Oregon Departments of Forestry and Corrections will be training more than 100 adults in custody (AICs) in various areas of wildland fire fighting for the upcoming season. These 10-person crews will then be qualified to deploy to fires and, during extreme fire danger events, will be pre-positioned in high threat areas to reduce response times.  

Visuals: See AICs rotate between four training stations: (All four stations will be going at the same time so news media can rotate between them as desired—these are all hands-on stations.)

Station #1 Pumps/Hose lay—AICs will receive a tour of an engine, learn to operate a Mark III pump, and construct a progressive hose lay.

Station #2 Fire Shelter Deployment—AICs will watch a 25-minute video in the tree cooler then deploy a practice fire shelter on the softball field.

Station #3 Handline construction/Tools—AICs will learn how to construct handline and will learn about each hand tool used in fire line construction.

Station #4 Mop-up—We will light burn piles and AICs will learn the process of mopping up after a fire.

People on-site available to interview: Various AICs participating in the training, ODF staff giving the training, and Forestry and Corrections staff who are assigned and work at South Fork. ODF will also have experts available

to talk about May being Wildfire Awareness Month and general information on the upcoming fire season.

When: May 14

Where: South Fork Forest Camp in the Tillamook State Forest. 48300 Wilson River Hwy, Tillamook, OR 97141-9799. It’s about 1.5 miles up a gravel road after the turnoff from the highway.

Time: Meet at 9:30 a.m. (If you come at a later time, we will do our best to get you to all four stations, but you might miss a rotation or two.)

Please send an RSVP by May 12. RSVP to tim.l.hoffman@odf.oregon.gov and/or amber.r.campbell@doc.oregon.gov . For more information on the fire training contact: Tim Hoffman, ODF public affairs, for South Fork or corrections-related information contact Amber Campbell, DOC public affairs. (Note: Likely cells phone will not have coverage at South Fork.)

Special note: All AICs have signed photo releases. Many may not want to be interviewed; however, we will have several that will be available.

Background:

Oregon Department of Forestry : Adults in custody rehabilitation : Forest benefits : State of Oregon

Department of Corrections : Locations and Divisions : About Us : State of Oregon

MEDIA ADVISORY - Oregon Department Of Forestry And Columbia Soil And Water Conservation District Will Burn Invasive Hawthorn Removed To Restore Oregon White Oak Woodland At Scappoose Airport (Photo) -05/06/25

WHEN: Tuesday morning, May 13, 2025

TIME: 11 a.m. to noon

WHERE: Scappoose Airport, Airport Road and Skyway Drive, Scappoose, OR 97056

WHAT: Oregon Dept. of Forestry has contracted with Canby-based Valley Environmental to bring their air curtain incinerator to Scappoose Airport to help safely burn piles of invasive English hawthorn trees that had been cleared from around oak trees.

• The clearance will restore the oak woodland and reduce fire risk.
• The air curtain incinerator reduces smoke by more than 90 percent compared to conventional debris pile burning, making it easier to burn close to protected airsheds like the Willamette Valley.
• Debris pile burning is the number one source of human-caused wildfires. Burning in an air curtain incinerator eliminates that danger because there are no debris pile embers left that could reignite later on and start a wildfire.

VISUALS:

• A loader machine feeding piles of invasive hawthorn into an air curtain incinerator (burn box is open to the sky) with open flames but relatively little smoke.
• Cleared understory in an oak woodland where invasive English hawthorn has been removed, freeing the Oregon white oak trees to grow.

SOUNDS: Fan that blows air over the wood fed into the incinerator to make it burn hotter and cleaner. Noise as debris is fed into the incinerator.

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES: With ODF staff and the incinerator owner who can talk about the benefits of using an air curtain incinerator over pile burning, and Columbia Soil and Water Conservation District staff who can talk about the importance of clearing invasives in order to restore oak woodland and reduce wildfire risk. A biochar advocate will also be available on site.

RSVP: Please let Public Affairs Officers Jim Gersbach or Crystalyn Bush know if you plan to attend. They will be on site with local colleagues to help with interviews, filming and recording.

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Speakers And Panelists Confirmed For Oregon’s Urban And Community Forestry Conference In Eugene On May 15 (Photo) -05/05/25

EUGENE, Ore. – Sixteen different speakers and panelists are now confirmed for Oregon’s Urban and Community Forestry Conference on May 15 in Eugene. The conference’s theme is Growing Together: Collaboration and Diverse Voices in Urban Forestry.

Keynote speaker is Christine Carmichael, PhD, founder of Fair Forest Consulting, LLC, of Lansing, Michigan, who will address historic, current and future trends regarding diversity in urban forestry.

The conference is put on by the non-profit organization Oregon Community Trees in partnership with the Oregon Department of Forestry and USDA Forest Service. Co-presenting sponsors are OUR Community Forestry and Portland Urban Forestry. The one-day conference will be held again this year downtown at Venue 252.

Also scheduled to speak are:

• Mike Oxendine, founder of OUR Community Forestry based in Talent, Ore. He’ll describe the strategies propelling the organization to rapid, sustainable growth and the programs making an impact in southern Oregon.
• Jacklyn Lim and Frankie Thompson with Portland Urban Forestry. They’ll explain how Portland leverages COBID-certified contractors to expand the city’s tree canopy in low-income, low-canopy neighborhoods.
• Gena Gastaldi of Portland Bureau of Transportation will talk about how the bureau is working with Portland Urban Forestry to pilot planting street trees in the parking zone of a low-canopy, low-income neighborhood.
• Brittany Oxford and Hilary Olivos-Rood from the Oregon Department of Forestry will share their agency’s experiences building relationships with Oregon Tribal communities, including successes, limitations, and opportunities for growth. They will be joined by Brook Colley, an Associate Professor and Chair of the Native American Studies program at Southern Oregon University, and Amanda Craig, who worked most recently as Oregon Project Manager for the Trust for Public Lands‘ Oregon Rural Schoolyards Program.  Colley is an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee. Craig is a citizen of The Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians. They will share their perspectives on what works and doesn’t work when attempting to build more respectful, mutually beneficial relationships with Native communities.
• sunny god with Friends of Trees will talk about designing complex organizational and program (eco)systems with care.

There will also be three panelists sharing experiences and ideas for how to recruit people currently under-represented in urban forestry and arboriculture into the profession and help them to flourish within it.

Three other panelists will discuss collaborating with diverse communities to extend the many benefits of shade-tree canopy more widely and in a more equitable manner.

Continuing education credits will be available for conference attendees.

Registration is $180 ($170 if the person registering lives or works in a Tree City USA community). Students can register for $80. Last day to register is Friday, May 9. Price includes a boxed lunch and a social hour beverage and snacks following the conference. To register, go to Growing Together: Collaboration and Diverse Voices in Urban Forestry

About Oregon Community Trees

The mission of this non-profit, Oregon-based organization is to promote healthy urban and community forests through leadership, education, awareness and advocacy. OCT serves as the advisory committee to the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Program.

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Board Of Forestry Hosts Virtual Special Meeting On May 12 -05/05/25

SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Board of Forestry will meet for a virtual special meeting starting at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 12. Members of the public are welcome to view the special meeting on the department’s YouTube channel.

The board’s business agenda includes:

• State forester recruitment plan

• Recruitment search firm

Please note: There will not be time allotted for live testimony during the special meeting. Written testimony may be submitted by emailing boardofforestry@odf.oregon.gov prior to the meeting date. To account for the time board members need to review the written testimony, consider sending written testimony by close of business on Friday, May 9. Submissions should include the meeting date and agenda item number/topic header with the written submission.

Accommodations for people with disabilities, and special materials, services, or assistance can be arranged by calling ODF’s Public Affairs Office at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting at 503-945-7200 or by email at forestryinformation@odf.oregon.gov.

The Oregon Board of Forestry consists of seven citizens nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the Oregon Senate. Responsibilities include appointing the State Forester, setting management direction for state-owned forests, adopting rules governing timber harvest and other practices on private forestland, and promoting sustainable management of Oregon’s 30 million-acre forestland base. Read more information about the board.

Escaped Debris Burns Increase In ODF Central Oregon District (Photo) -05/02/25

Prineville, OR – The Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District is seeing an uptick in escaped debris burn piles, with several over the past few weeks burning up to 30 acres in size.

For example, a recent 8-acre fire resulted from a week-old burn pile that was assumed to be out cold but rekindled several days later, requiring suppression action by firefighters. Not following burn day instructions, one of which is thoroughly checking the burn piles later when the weather shifts, are the leading causes of these escapes.

Central Oregon District Forester Rob Pentzer reminds residents that escaped debris burns can lead to citations and cost collection from the responsible party for any suppression costs.

“Escaped debris burn fires continue to be the leading human cause of wildfires on private lands.” Pentzer said, “They are also the most preventable, when folks follow the rules.”

ODF Fire Managers and Fire District Chiefs want to remind residents to:

• Check with their local fire district to ensure that burning is allowed on a given day
• Follow all instructions after obtaining any necessary permits.
• Watch the weather forecasts. Wind and rapid weather changes are major factors that can affect the spread of fire from a debris burn.
• Ensure you have a safe fire area cleared around your pile with water and tools readily available.
• Monitor your pile until it has consumed all fuels, then stir with water until the area is out cold. Unattended piles can rekindle and spread later without warning.

With May being Wildfire Awareness Month, now is the time for everyone to take these extra steps to prevent the next wildfire in Oregon. For more wildfire prevention tips, visit KeepOregonGreen.org.

For local ODF burn information, please call:

• Prineville-Sisters Unit  – (541) 447-5658
• John Day Unit  – (541) 296-9445
• The Dalles Unit – (541) 296-4626

Drought, Beetles, And Tree Diseases Continue To Threaten Oregon’s Forests According To Latest Aerial Survey (Photo) -04/29/25

SALEM, Ore. – A new report on the state of health of Oregon’s forests is now available. Based on an extensive aerial survey of Oregon’s forests completed last year by the Oregon Department of Forestry and the USDA Forest Service, the report shows that drought, insect pests, and tree diseases continue to be the biggest threats to the state’s trees. The full report is available at https://www.oregon.gov/odf/forestbenefits/documents/forest-health-highlights.pdf

“A large part of this report is devoted to looking at the impact from climate change, specifically drought. Drought is often paired with rising temperatures, and together these are often the underlying causes for tree mortality across our landscape. Drought reduces tree growth and increases susceptibility to insect pests and some diseases, which healthy trees may otherwise resist or tolerate,” said ODF Forest Entomologist Christine Buhl, who helped produce the report.

Buhl said the report also measures other causes of trees being injured or killed, such as insect pests, diseases, storms, and wildfires.

Last year a record 1.9 million acres were affected by wildfire. However, some of those acres contained sections that were not damaged, not all of the burned areas were forested, and not all forests burned with the same intensity.  Some areas that experienced low-intensity wildfires, in many places because of fuel-reduction work, may see a majority of their larger-diameter trees survive.

Areas hardest hit by drought, such as the eastern foothills of the Cascades and some parts of northeastern Oregon, saw the largest amount of non-wildfire tree damage—some 2.26 million acres. Within those 2.26 million acres is a mosaic of unaffected and current-year affected acres of forest. In 2024, 580,000 affected acres of damage from these agents were recorded. Damage consisted of 496,000 affected acres of tree injury, most of which (463,000 acres) was caused by Swiss needle cast, a foliar disease from which trees may recover. But 84,000 acres showed tree deaths. 

“We may be under-reporting the impact of many tree-killing diseases, because the signs can often be missed from the air. For example, root diseases require ground-based assessment, such as excavating roots, to verify the presence of disease.  This is labor intensive so is not done routinely across all forestlands,” said Buhl.

Buhl emphasized the importance of on-the-ground collaborators to help round out the full picture of forest health in Oregon. “In addition to information ODF and the USDA Forest Service gather, we rely on Oregon State University Forestry Extension staff from across the state, and collaborate with other natural resource agencies, universities, public and private forest landowners, and members of the public to gather information,” she said.

In the aerial survey, trained observers fly over all forested lands in the Pacific Northwest in fixed-wing aircraft and record damage to trees from all sources. Flights are staffed with one observer on each side of the aircraft. Survey flights typically fly between 1,500 to 2,500 feet above ground level, following a systematic grid four miles apart and traveling at 90 to 140 miles an hour.

The Pacific Northwest Aerial Detection Survey is the longest continuous survey of its kind in the United States, having been established in 1947 and flown every year since, except 2020 when it was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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May Is Wildfire Awareness Month (Photo) -04/28/25

SALEM, Ore. – May is Wildfire Awareness Month. Oregon experiences its heaviest wildfire activity during the summer months, but fires can occur at any time of year including spring. Keep Oregon Green, in partnership with federal, state, tribal and local fire and emergency response agencies, will be spreading the word about the steps we call can take to prevent the start of careless, unwanted wildfires this summer, and encouraging Oregonians to create defensible space around homes and outbuildings.

At stake: lives, property and scenic beauty

Before heading outdoors this summer, be sure to contact the agency or landowner who manages the land at your destination for an update on current fire restrictions or bans. Everyone should be familiar with these restrictions before building open fires or using equipment that could ignite a wildfire.

Only You Can Prevent Wildfires

Keep Oregon Green has been fighting wildfire with publicity since 1941, and this season the Association is reviving vintage billboard artwork from the 1950’s with Smokey’s timeless image and well-known slogan. This year’s campaign calls on the public to predict the outcome of their actions and do everything they can to prevent wildfire ignitions. Campaign artwork, PSAs, and additional wildfire safety tips can be found at keeporegongreen.org and its various social media platforms.

Coming soon: More Wildfire Awareness Month tips

During May, a new wildfire prevention topic will be shared each week to help homeowners and recreationists learn how to prevent their outdoor activities from sparking the next wildfire. For more information, visit the websites for Keep Oregon Green at www.keeporegongreen.org, the Oregon Department of Forestry at www.oregon.gov/odf, and the Oregon State Fire Marshal at https://www.oregon.gov/osfm/education/pages/prevent-wildfires.aspx.

Follow Oregon wildfire news and prevention updates on social media: @keeporegongreen, @ORDeptForestry and @OSFM.