Medford, OR – After 135 days, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Southwest Oregon District officially ended the 2025 fire season at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, October 14, 2025, according to district officials. The closure applies to all ODF-protected lands in Jackson and Josephine Counties, signaling the suspension of most seasonal fire restrictions.
According to the ODF, the decision follows multiple days of widespread rain and cooler temperatures that reduced wildfire danger across the district. The season began on June 1 and covered 281,000 acres, with 358 separate fire incidents reported.
This year’s first large wildfire occurred near Upper Applegate Road on June 18, two days before the anniversary of 2024’s Upper Applegate Fire. The district also faced significant challenges in September when dry lightning sparked several fires in the Lower Rogue River Canyon area.
Despite an active summer, officials said crews managed to contain 92% of fires under 10 acres, meeting ODF’s annual goal. Industrial slash burning will remain prohibited until further notice, but residential debris burning may resume where permitted by local fire agencies.
Residents are urged to continue following basic fire safety practices, ensuring debris piles are never left unattended and always checked with local authorities before burning.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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