Sean C. Morgan
The annual burn ban went into effect Saturday.
The ban applies to all open and backyard burning 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 are seeing a lot of cured fuels occurring in East Linn County, raising fire concerns,” said Mike Beaver, Linn County Fire Defense Board chief and Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District chief. “The dry weather has fuels at late-July dryness levels. Everyone needs to do their part for us to have a safe fire season.”
Temperatures in July and August are predicted to be higher than usual while precipitation is expected to be lower than normal, said Chad Calderwood, forest protection supervisor with the ODF Sweet Home Unit. “Things will dry out earlier.”
Right now, things are about two weeks ahead of schedule in terms of fuel loads and moisture levels, he said. It’s not going to be drought conditions, but it’s above normal for fire potential.
At this point, fire danger is listed at low. The Industrial Precaution Level isn’t in effect yet. That begins with regulated use after the official fire season starts. Calderwood expects the fire season to begin at the beginning of July.
Forest officers and engine operators went to work last Wednesday, Calderwood said, and the unit’s full fire crew was in place on Monday.
Fire school runs from June 24 to June 28 in Sweet Home.
“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 there own property,” said Rick Smith, Benton County Fire Defense Board chief. “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.
“We would also ask property owners to explore other options during this burn ban. (Alternatives) to burning include chipping, recycling centers and composting and are available to the public year round.”
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 over 50,000 in population after June 15. These burn restrictions expand the geographical scope to include areas outside the three- and six-mile limit.
The Oregon Department of Forestry may issue citations for violations of burning restrictions.
For more information on the open burning restrictions as well as advice on safe debris disposal, contact the ODF Sweet Home Unit at (541) 367-6108 or Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District at (541) 367-5882.