A ban on all open and backyard burning will take effect on June 15 in Linn, Benton and Marion counties.
The Oregon Department of Forestry and the fire defense boards of the three counties announced the ban, which aims to reduce the incidence of open debris burns escaping control. The restrictions will extend through Oct. 15 or later, depending on fire danger.
“We’re already noticing that some of our south-slope grass hillsides are browning up,” said Lena Tucker of the department’s South Cascade District. “The seedheads have developed, and with the onset of warm weather it will not take long for curing to occur.”
The open burning restrictions coincide with the current air-quality rules set forth by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Those rules already forbid open burning within three miles of cities over 1,000 in population and six miles from cities more than 50,000 in population after June 15. These burn restrictions expand the geographic scope to include areas outside the three- and six-mile limits.
Mike Beaver, Linn County Fire Defense Board chief, advised residents that the county is a month ahead of last year, in regard to fuel loads and the lack of moisture in those fuels.
“A few more dry days will escalate the rate that fuels will cure and increase the fire danger accordingly,” he said. “I encourage people to be extremely careful with fire and to contact their local fire department if they have questions.”
Last week’s storms reduced the fire danger, ODF Sweet Home Unit Forester Ed Keith said. “We were getting into the moderate zone last week, just starting to get into a little higher fire danger.”
Humidity has been running higher than 50 percent, he said, and the level will likely remain low through this week.
“Don’t get a false sense of security,” he warned, adding that a couple of days of sunshine will dry out grass and small fuels quickly, and people should make sure their late-season fires are attended.
Benton County Fire Defense Board Chief Rick Smith noted that the annual, multi-county residential burn ban starts on June 15.
“Along with this ban on residential burning, we hope that the public has an increased awareness of wildfires and what they can do to help protect their own property,” he said. “The work that a property owner does now keeping a defensible space around their property will make the difference between losing a home or structure, and keeping their valuable investment intact during a wildfire event.”
Smith also encouraged property owners to explore other options during the burn ban. Alternatives to burning that are now available to the public year-round include: chipping, recycling centers and composting. He expressed thanks to residents for their efforts to keep themselves and their neighbors safe from wildfire.
Rural fire agencies and the Oregon Department of Forestry have the authority to enforce and regulate the burn ban. Under Oregon Revised Statute Chapter 477, the department may issue citations for violation of the burning restrictions.
Coinciding with the burn ban, the first of the local Department of Forestry seasonal staff will return to work, Keith said.
For more information on the open burning restrictions as well as advice on safe debris disposal, contact the nearest Department of Forestry office, 367-6108, or the local fire department, 367-5882.