Douglas County Officials Prepare for Early Start to Fire Season
Douglas County fire officials say fire season could arrive by early June due to dry conditions. Despite concerns over federal staffing, local crews are well-prepared, with strong recruitment and interagency coordination already in place.
Local fire officials gathered Thursday morning at Del Rey Café to discuss what’s shaping up to be an early and potentially challenging fire season in Douglas County.
According to Aaron Whiteley, the Central Unit Forester for the Douglas Forest Protective Association (DFPA), fire season could begin as early as the first or second week of June. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re in fire season by early June,” Whiteley said. “Things aren’t looking great out there.”
Representatives from the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Douglas County Commissioners, and the Sheriff’s Office were among those at the table for the meeting.
Whiteley noted that recent weather has been unusually dry - particularly April, which saw about two inches less rainfall than normal. While February and March brought some moisture, that trend didn’t continue. “The rain just shut off in April,” he said. “And May hasn’t done much to help either.”
Governor Tina Kotek recently expressed concern about potential federal staffing shortages during a press conference in Medford. Although there are worries about federal funding and resources, she assured Oregonians that the state is “fully staffed and ready” for wildfire response. Whiteley echoed that confidence locally, saying Douglas County is also prepared. “We’ve had one of our best recruitment years since before COVID - probably since 2019,” he said, adding that they’re still accepting applications to fill a few remaining positions.
DFPA District Manager Pat Skrip emphasized that, between local and regional partnerships, Douglas County tends to be well-prepared when fire season hits. “We’ve got solid coordination across agencies and fast response when things do happen,” Skrip said.
Still, he acknowledged that if a large-scale fire breaks out - like the 2024 Dixon Fire in the Tiller area - outside help may be needed. “In those cases, we call for a federal team, which could come from anywhere in the country depending on availability,” he said. “But until they arrive, we’ll be holding the line.”
Skrip concluded with confidence in local crews: “I’ll put our firefighters up against anyone - especially when they’re protecting their own backyard.”
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