High-Fire Danger Burn Ban in Effect

    For more information see the High-Fire Danger Burn Ban Rules Listed Below 

 To View the Daily Open Burning Announcement (click here) 

High-Fire Danger Burn Ban Rules

                                                          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         

 

 

 When a burn ban is enacted, the following is prohibited:

  • Backyard or open burning (branches, yard debris, etc.).
  • Agricultural burning (agricultural wastes, crops, field burning, etc.).
  • Any other land clearing, slash, stump, waste, debris, or controlled burning.

A Burn Ban Does Not Prohibit: 

  • Small outdoor cooking, warming or recreational fires. These include portable or permanent fire pits, fire tables, and campfires. The maximum fuel/burn area of these are to be three (3) feet in diameter and two (2) feet in height. Their location for use should be safely away from combustible items and vegetation.
  • Barbeque grills, smokers, and similar cooking appliances with clean, dry firewood, briquettes, wood chips, pellets, propane, natural gas, or similar fuels.
  • Gas, battery, or electrical powered equipment such as chainsaws, lawnmowers, string trimmers, etc. 

ODF Restricted Lands:

There may be more restrictive fire safety rules on and within 1/8 mile of of Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) protected land which exists throughout much of rural Washington County. ODF restriction may include prohibitions on campfires, smoking, target shooting, powered equipment, motorized vehicles, as well as, other public, private landowner, and industrial fire restrictions. More details about ODF fire restrictions are available on their website. (Click here to be redirected.)

Outdoor fires in violation of this burn ban may be immediately extinguished. If a fire agency responds to a fire that has been started in willful violation of this burn ban, the person responsible may be liable for all costs incurred, as well as, legal fees per Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 478.965.

 

 

 Minimum Safety Requirements for All Burning

 

In areas where outdoor burning is permitted, Banks Fire reminds you to burn safely. Only burn during daylight hours. Separate material into smaller burn piles to control size and assist in extinguishing. Ensure materials are dry, to ensure efficient burning and minimize the generation of smoke. Never leave your outdoor fire unattended. Have proper equipment available/on-hand to put out or contain your fire. Includes, but is not limited to: a shovel water source cell phone (to report if unable to contain or extinguish)

Note: In addition to all other specified rules, outdoor burning must be conducted safely when it is allowed. Oregon Fire Code (OFC) Section 307.3 provides authority for Banks Fire to extinguish any outdoor fire that creates or adds to a hazardous situation, or that is in violation of applicable codes, regulations and laws.

 

Backyard Burning

 

Backyard burning is only allowed during specified hours each day (determined by DEQ and ODF) during the spring (March 1 to June 15) and fall (October 1 to December 15). This allows for limited outdoor burning of yard debris, leaves and tree trimmings in accordance with DEQ rules. Burning items like household waste, construction materials, and plastics are prohibited. A full list of prohibited materials are listed in the linked fact sheet below.

Setbacks:

Backyard burning shall not be conducted within 50 feet of any structure or other combustible material. Conditions which could cause the fire to spread within 50 feet of a structure shall be eliminated prior to ignition. 

Exception: 

The setback from structures and other combustible materials may be reduced to:

  • not less than 15 feet when burning is conducted in an approved burning appliance (such as a burn barrel).
  • not less than 25 feet when the burn pile size is 3 feet, or less, in diameter and 2 feet, or less, in height.

Oregon Fire Code section 307.5


Attendance:

Backyard burning shall be constantly attended until the fire is extinguished. Not few than one (1) portable fire extinguisher, complying with Oregon Fire Code section 906, with a minimum 4-A rating, or other approved on-site fire extinguishing equipment, such as dirt, sand, water barrel, garden hose or water truck, shall be available for immediate utilization. 

Oregon Fire Code section 307.5

When finished, soak the burned area thoroughly. 


Agricultural Debris Burning

 

Agricultural debris burning is limited to genuine agricultural waste. Agricultural waste is material generated by an agricultural operation that uses, or intends to use, land primarily for the purpose of obtaining a profit in money by raising, harvesting and selling crops, or raising and selling animals (including poultry), or the products of animal husbandry. Prohibited materials cannot be burned, even in an agricultural setting. Prohibited materials are listed in the linked fact sheet below. Just because you live in a rural area, doesn't automatically allow you to burn during agricultural burn season. 
 
Agricultural Debris Burning is allowed outside of high fire danger times, typically January 1st to June 15th, and October 1st to December 31st (these dates are subject to change based on fire danger conditions).  We follow DEQ requirements and listed burn times on their website, so it is important to check their website and look for the AGRICULTURAL burning burn times below.  DEQ updates their page daily.

 

CLICK HERE TO SEE IF TODAY IS A BURN DAY

 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE DEQ OUTDOOR BURNING FACT SHEET

 

 

Fire Pits, Campfires, and Similar Appliances

 

Banks Fire does not regulate: The use of small fire pits, fire tables, outdoor fireplaces, barbecue pits, campfires, and similar activities provided that they are burning clean dry firewood, propane, natural gas, charcoal or similar fuels AND the fire is confined by a noncombustible barrier (such as a metal fire ring, masonry or stone enclosure, a hole in bare earth, etc.)  
 
If there is no confinement, such as an open stack of firewood on the ground, it would be considered a:
  • Recreational Fire - if less than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height, or
  • Bonfire - if larger.

 

Burning of leaves, branches, and other yard debris, or agricultural waste, is NOT exempt from outdoor burning rules, even if it is burned within an approved fire pit or similar appliance. Burning such material is always subject to DEQ "backyard burning" rules, DEQ Permanent Burn Ban rules, and Banks Fire High Fire Danger Burn rules.

 

 

Recreational Fires and Bonfires

 

Recreational fires:

These are fires that are not confined within an enclosure (pit, metal ring, fireplace, etc.). These shall not be conducted within 25 feet of a structure or combustible material. Conditions that would cause a fire to spread within 25 feet of a structure shall be eliminated prior to ignition. (Oregon Fire Code section 307.4.2)

 

Bonfires:

These are unenclosed recreational fires that exceed 3 feet in diameter x 2 feet in height. These shall not be conducted within 50 feet of a structure or combustible material unless the fire is contained in a barbecue pit. Conditions that could cause a fire to spread within 50 feet of a structure shall be eliminated prior to ignition. (Oregon Fire Code section 307.4.1)

 

Attendance:

Both, recreational fires and bonfires, shall be constantly attended until the fire is extinguished. Not fewer than one (1) portable fire extinguisher complying with Oregon Fire Code section 906, with a minimum 4-A rating, or other approved fire extinguishing equipment, such as dirt, sand, water barrel, garden hose, or water truck shall be available for immediate utilization. (Oregon Fire Code section 307.5)