Announcements

Central Oregon Wildfire Links

Deschutes County 2026 Fall Fuel Reduction Grant Program

Deschutes County has allocated $50,000 for the fall of 2026 to fund fuel reduction projects aimed at reducing wildfire risk in Deschutes County communities. Preference will be given to communities or neighborhoods that are working towards or have already achieved recognition as a Firewise USA™ site and are proposing projects consistent with their Firewise action plan and community assessment.

There are no minimum or maximum limits on grant requests, however awards are anticipated to range between $100 and $5,000. The first round of applications will be accepted from September 1 through September 30., 2026. Applicants will be notified by early November. Project work and reporting must be completed by June 30, 2027. Click here for more information and application forms.

UDRC 2026 Fall Defensible Space Reimbursement Program

The 2026 Fall Defensible Space Reimbursement Program is open for new applications. Property owners who did not receive a reimbursement in 2025 or 2026 may apply. Click here to access the online application form.

The UDRC will help property owners within the La Pine Rural Fire Protection District with the cost of creating or maintaining defensible space for wildfire risk reduction. The UDRC will reimburse your expenses for UDRC approved contractors and rental equipment up to $500 maximum. One application from a sole or joint property owner will be accepted for the Fall progam beginning August 1, 2026 for work completed by December 15, 2026.

New study reveals higher wildfire risk in La Pine

An OSU study finds La Pine faces greater wildfire risk due to social and economic vulnerabilities. Researchers say the data could help guide funding and preparedness efforts. Watch the video from Central Oregon Daily news.

La Pine Basin BLM Campfire Ban May 1 – October 31, 2026

The Bureau of Land Management is enacting a seasonal ban on campfires in the La Pine Basin starting Friday May 1, 2026. The ban covers campfires, charcoal fires and any type of open flame. Metal camp stoves fueled by propane or liquid fuel are still allowed. The fire restrictions cover a wide area of BLM land between South Century Drive and the Fremont-Winema National Forest. The seasonal fire closure will remain in effect through October 31, 2026

La Pine Fire District Debris Burning Season Ends April 30th, 2026

Debris burning will close for the season at dusk, April 30, 2026. Recreational BBQs and campfires are still allowed unless a burn ban goes into effect. Burn permits are still required for campfires and the Burn Information Line should still be called each time beforehand. The Burn Line number is 541-536-9056.

USFS Wildfire Risk to Communities Website

Wildfire Risk to Communities is a free, easy-to-use website with interactive maps, charts, and resources to help communities understand, explore, and reduce wildfire risk. It was created by the USDA Forest Service under the direction of Congress. As wildfires increase in frequency and severity across the country, Wildfire Risk to Communities uses the best available science to not only identify risk, but also provide resources for communities to manage and mitigate risk. Click on the following links for information about wildfire risk in Three Rivers and La Pine communities.

USFS Boundary Road Fuels Reduction Project

The 4,378-acre Boundary Road Fuels Reduction Project is located west of La Pine on the Deschutes National Forest north and south of Burgess Road. The project borders the Ponderosa Pines and Day Road area communities. Click here for the project map. Click here for more information. The Boundary Road Fuels Reduction Project will enhance forest resilience to insect and disease while reducing the wildfire risk the adjacent communities through the actions, including:

  • Commercial Timber Harvest / Small Diameter Thinning
  • Mowing & Mastication
  • Pile Burning
  • Prescribed Burning
  • Shaded Fuel Breaks

UDRC Low-income Senior or Disabled Defensible Space Program

The Low-income Defensible Space program is open for new applications. UDRC has partnered with Council on Aging of Central Oregon to provide free wildfire fuels reduction services for low-income senior or low-income disabled homeowners within the La Pine Rural Fire Protection District. Click here for a printable flyer describing the program. Click here to print the mail-in application form. You can request an application form by calling 541-815-1362. A representative from UDRC will assess your property and propose a fuels reduction project to improve your defensible space for a wildfire.

BLM Good Neighbor Grant

The Deschutes County Natural Resources Program was awarded a $275,000 Good Neighbor Grant from the Bureau of Land Management. The grant will award up to $25,000 to three communities each year for fuel reduction work over a three-year period. The department plans to retain $50,000 in order to treat county-owned property. Grant application information will be published on the UDRC Website and Email list when available.

Deschutes County approves stricter building rules to reduce wildfire risk

The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners has approved new building standards for unincorporated areas of the county to address the growing threat of wildfires. The regulations, taking effect April 1, require all new homes and accessory structures to be built with fire resistant material. Click here for more information.

Deschutes County Emergency Management

In this episode of Inside Deschutes County, Ben Duda, Emergency Manager with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, explains how the County prepares for winter storms, wildfires and other large-scale incidents.

UDRC 2025 Programs Report

Defensible Space Reimbursement Program

Projects Completed: 59
Property Owner Expenses: $64,679
Reimbursement Payments: $28,838
Three Rivers Area: 39 projects
La Pine Area: 20 projects

Low-income Senior Defensible Space Program

Property Assessments: 18
Projects Completed: 16
Contractor Payments: $14,900

Deschutes County awarded $3.4 million grant for La Pine wildfire mitigation

Deschutes County is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $3.4 million USDA Forest Service Community Wildfire Defense Grant for its La Pine Wildfire Mitigation Project. The 5-year project is a collaborative effort to reduce fire fuels, educate the public, increase wildfire preparedness, and mitigate wildfire risk within the La Pine Rural Fire District. Funding for UDRC Low-income and Reimbursement Defensible Space programs is included. For more information visit the Deschutes County Natural Resources webpage.

Whychus Canyon Estates Flat Fire Experience

The Whychus Canyon Estates subdivision north of Sisters escaped destruction, thanks to well-prepared neighborhood and heroic firefighting efforts. Read the article by Jim Cornelius from The Nugget Newspaper. Watch the video produced by Weiss Productions telling the story of the Flat Fire as it threatened Sisters Country, capturing firsthand experiences from firefighters, homeowners, and helicopter pilots.

Melissa Steele is first Deputy Fire Marshal for Bend Fire & Rescue

Melissa Steele has seen firsthand the devastation a wildfire can cause. She not only lost her home in the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California, but worked for Cal Fire at the time, trying to save other people’s lives and property. That fire was one of the deadliest and most destructive in California history. Now she’s the first Deputy Fire Marshal of Wildfire Preparedness for Bend Fire & Rescue. Read the article by Nic Moye from the SOURCE.

Oregon Fire Marshal defensible space demonstration

The Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is showing off the value of preparing your home for wildfire. OSFM provided a demonstration setting two houses on fire to show the difference made by creating defensible space and using non-flammable materials. Click here to watch the video.

Yellow Flag Iris Weed Eradication

Please join the efforts of fellow Deschutes Watershed advocates in controlling yellow flag iris along the Deschutes River and its many tributaries. Deschutes County Natural Resources Department needs your support and cooperation as we undertake this watershed level approach of removing yellow flag iris from the banks of the Deschutes River in the Three Rivers Area. Yellow flag iris is displacing native plants, will physically restrict water flow, increase sedimentation, and limit the water carrying capacity of the river.

To identify yellow flag iris please visit the following links:

Integrative management strategies are essential to control yellow flag iris and other invasive species populations. Initial herbicide control methods are planned for fall 2024 by experienced and licensed applicators. If you would like to provide access to treat yellow flag iris on your riverfront property, please contact Kevin Moriarty, Deschutes County Forester, kevin.moriarty@deschutes.org.

Newberry Regional Partnership

The Newberry Regional Partnership is a team of public and private citizens that have come together to develop a long-range plan for growth in South Deschutes County. Our goal is to create a community strategic action plan and to provide a path for community civic engagement and education.

The Partnership is focused on creating a collaborative organization of community leaders from the public and private sectors to engage the broader La Pine community in planning for and dealing with changes associated with growth in the years ahead. Email engage@newberryregionalpartnership.org with questions, comments, or suggestions for the group.

Oregon State Fire Marshal Defensible Space Website

To better prepare Oregonians for wildfire and give them resources to help create defensible space, the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) has launched a new defensible space educational tool. The Oregon Defensible Space Program offers Oregon-specific wildfire preparedness best practices, resources for download, and an in-person defensible space property assessment request portal. Creating defensible space is something everyone can do to reduce the wildfire risk to their home or business from wildfire. This website provides a one-stop shop for Oregonians with information and other resources they need to protect their homes and neighborhoods.

Whether people want to connect with local programs, gain insight into maintaining defensible space, or begin a defensible space plan, Oregonians can find resources by visiting Oregon Defensible Space (https://oregondefensiblespace.org/)

Reporting Graffiti or Illegal Dump Sites

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office inmate work crews have been actively involved in the community by removing graffiti and cleaning up large collections of litter from property throughout Deschutes County. Click here to report graffiti or illegal dump sites in Deschutes County.