The backyard burning season, typically scheduled to open Oct. 1, has been delayed.
Linn County Fire Defense Board Chiefs have agreed to delay the start of backyard burning until such time that the local area receives enough rain to minimize the risk of fire spread.
Sweet Home Fire Chief Nick Tyler said that the county’s chiefs decided fuels are too dry, “even with the little bit of rain we’ve gotten and especially with the forecasted weather going back into the 80s.”
“We’re a little hesitant to have burning resume.”
The chiefs will continue to evaluate opening backyard burn season,” he said.
“We’ll re-evaluate, week to week. As soon as we see change, we will (start the season).”
Once the risk has diminished, updated information for Linn County residents will be posted at http://www.linncountyfiredefense.com and @linncountyfiredefenseboard.
“This isn’t extreme or out of the ordinary,” Tyler said, noting that he likes the Fire Defense Board’s approach. “I very much appreciate the approach this group of chiefs is taking, looking at it from a fuels standpoint and not as a calendar date.”