Public Use Restrictions Implemented on Umatilla Indian Reservation

MISSION – Due to extreme fire danger, hot and dry weather and increasing wildfire activity, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Umatilla Tribal Fire Department (UTFD) is implementing public use restrictions across the Umatilla Indian Reservation (UIR) effective immediately.

The 2026 fire season has already proved to be one of the most active in decades. The UIR has experienced multiple wildfire incidents, including the North Cayuse Fire and the Old Emigrant Road Fire, which required extensive response and placed considerable demands on CTUIR and regional firefighting resources. UTFD personnel continue to support operations and monitor the impacts of the Hagen Fire and Horse Ridge Fire, which remain active and continue to strain regional firefighting resources.

Effective immediately, the following public use restrictions are in place:

• All open fires are prohibited, including campfires, warming fires, cooking fires, burn barrels, debris burning and agricultural burning.
• Traditional and ceremonial fires are not prohibited but must receive prior UTFD approval. Authorization will be based on current fire danger, weather conditions and available firefighting resources.
• All fireworks remain prohibited on the UIR until fire season has officially ended.
• Exploding targets, tracer ammunition and incendiary devices are prohibited. Firearms users are encouraged to exercise extreme caution, particularly when using full-metal-jacket ammunition in rocky terrain where sparks may occur.
• Operation of off-road vehicles in dry grass, brush or other cured vegetation is prohibited unless required for emergency response, official CTUIR business, agricultural operations or other authorized purposes.
• Non-industrial cutting, grinding, welding or any activity capable of producing sparks is prohibited in areas containing dry vegetation. Approved industrial operations must maintain appropriate fire suppression equipment, including a water supply, pump, fire extinguisher and hand tools.
• Non-industrial and agricultural mowing of cured grasses using brush-hog or rotary mowing equipment is prohibited during periods of elevated fire danger.
• The use of gasoline-powered chainsaws for non-industrial purposes is prohibited in forested and grassland areas. Battery-powered or electric chainsaws may be used with caution.

These restrictions reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires, protect lives and property, preserve natural and cultural resources and ensure emergency responders remain available for critical incidents.

The public is reminded that a single spark can ignite a fast-moving wildfire under current conditions. Every resident and visitor has a responsibility to help prevent human-caused fires by following the public use restrictions and remaining vigilant while outdoors.

UTFD will monitor fire conditions daily and adjust restrictions as conditions warrant. Public cooperation is critical to protecting communities, firefighters, cultural resources and the lands of the UIR.

For additional information regarding the restrictions, call the UTFD at 541-276-2126 or email jameshall@ctuir.org

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation is comprised of the Cayuse, Walla Walla and Umatilla Tribes, and formed under the Treaty of 1855 at the Walla Walla Valley, 12 Stat. 945. In 1949, the Tribes adopted a constitutional form of government to protect, preserve and enhance the reserved treaty rights guaranteed under federal law.