Campfires won’t be allowed in Oregon’s state parks for at least another week, but have been cleared for use at designated areas in the Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman national forests.

Both forests dropped down to Phase B public use restrictions Thursday after light rains and cooler weather provided a brief reprieve from extreme wildfire conditions.

However, fire officials caution the potential for fire activity still persists and warmer, drier weather is once again expected in the coming days.

“We urge the recreating public to be very careful in the forests and grasslands, and factor wildfire prevention into all of their activities,” said Chris Johnson, deputy fire staff officer on the Umatilla National Forest, in an announcement late Wednesday.

Phase B restrictions limit campfires only at designated campgrounds and recreation sites, while still prohibiting chainsaw use, firewood cutting and all other internal combustion engines except motor vehicles.

Liquefied or bottled gas stoves and heaters are allowed for cooking and heating. Generators will be allowed only if they are placed in the center of an area at least 10 feet in diameter and cleared of all flammable material; or when fully contained in a truck bed devoid of flammable material; or when factory installed in a recreational vehicle, with the exhaust discharged in the center of an area at least 10 feet in diameter and cleared of all flammable material.

For a complete list of designated campfire locations, contact the Umatilla National Forest at 541-278-3716, or the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest at 541-523-6391.

Meanwhile, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has decided to wait another week before considering lifting the ban on campfires at state parks.

Wildfire crews are still heavily engaged in fighting large blazes across the state, and conditions have not improved enough to lift the restrictions, according to an announcement. Deputy Director M.G. Devereux will review the situation again next week.

Propane stoves and charcoal briquettes for cooking are not covered by the statewide ban, but some parks have more restrictive measures in place that do cover briquettes. Visitors should check before traveling what’s allowed at their destination by calling the park, calling the state park information line at 1-800-551-6949 or looking up the park online at www.oregonstateparks.org.

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Contact George Plaven at gplaven@eastoregonian.com or 541-966-0825