Clackamas County has cranked its fire danger level up to High in county parks, tightening campfire rules as hot, dry weather settles in. Campfires are now limited to designated receptacles, must be watched the entire time they are burning, and, according to county guidance, flames should stay under 12 inches above the grate. Staff are nudging campers toward portable stoves instead of open flames, reminding everyone to drown and stir fires until they are cold to the touch and to remember how fast stray embers can race through brush and dry grass.
The county announced the move on its official Facebook page, noting that the change follows an Oregon Department of Forestry declaration for the North Cascade Fire Protection District. The county advisory details the updated fire rules, while Clackamas County is also steering people to cooling-center and air-quality resources as temperatures climb.
What is allowed and what is not
Under the High public-use level, campfires, including charcoal cooking and warming fires, are restricted to designated locations. Portable cooking stoves that use bottled fuels are still okay to use. The Oregon Department of Forestry's North Cascade district keeps a public-use restriction sheet that spells out which parks can host small fires and what gear is required in forestlands. The ODF district guide lists all of the designated fire sites.
Penalties and enforcement
Park rangers and county staff can write citations for breaking the rules. Clackamas County's fee schedule includes penalties such as $97 for leaving a fire unattended and up to $367 for building a fire that creates a hazard. Those fines and procedures are laid out on the department's Parks Fees and Fines page. Clackamas County Parks publishes the complete schedule.
How to stay safe
Officials suggest that visitors carry basic tools and water. ODF's North Cascade restrictions require a shovel and at least one gallon of water, or a 2.5 lb. ABC fire extinguisher, when traveling in forestlands, and they recommend keeping a 50 foot cleared area around any fire that is allowed. If you see a wildfire or a campfire that has escaped its ring, call 911 right away. For non-emergency park questions, reach out to the county parks office. ODF guidance remains the go-to source for equipment requirements and designated sites, while the county page carries local updates.
