La Grande issues immediate fire restrictions at Morgan Lake
La Grande put Morgan Lake under immediate fire restrictions July 17, banning open fires as ODF tightened rules across Northeast Oregon. Campers and anglers now have to follow the tougher summer limits.
The City of La Grande imposed immediate fire restrictions at Morgan Lake on July 17, closing off open-flame use as wildfire danger climbed across Union County and the rest of Northeast Oregon. The Parks & Recreation Department took the action in accordance with the Oregon Department of Forestry.
At Morgan Lake, campers and day visitors had to stop using open fires, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires except in designated locations. Portable cooking stoves fueled by liquefied or bottled gas were still allowed, and propane fire pits had to be self-contained, set at least three feet from flammable material and kept to a flame height of no more than two feet. The ODF restrictions also barred open debris burning, burn barrels, fireworks, exploding targets and tracer ammunition, while smoking was limited to vehicles on improved roads, boats on the water or cleared areas. Sky lanterns remained prohibited statewide.
The city’s move followed a June 19 order from ODF that put High Fire Restrictions in place at 12:01 a.m. across the Northeast Oregon District. That district covered about 2 million acres of protected land across Union, Baker, Wallowa and Umatilla counties, along with small portions of Malheur, Morrow and Grant counties. Warmer, drier weather is pushing wildfire risk higher, and district forester Justin Lauer said forecasts pointed to typical summer conditions with elevated temperatures and rising danger.
ODF also restricted several spark-producing daytime activities from noon to 8 p.m., including non-industrial chainsaw use, cutting, grinding or welding metal, and mowing dried and cured grass with power-driven equipment. The La Grande Unit was listed as a contact point for more information at (541) 963-3168.
Morgan Lake has repeatedly landed under seasonal fire controls during peak summer risk. On July 27, 2022, restrictions were set to increase there beginning July 29, 2022, and on June 30, 2025, open fires would be banned at the lake beginning July 2, 2025.
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