Burning Information

Beginning July 1 at 7am, all fire agencies in Washington County will enact a High Fire Danger Burn Ban.  The burn prohibits the following:

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

The burn ban does not prohibit:

  1. Small outdoor cooking, warming or recreational fires.  These include portable or permanent fire pits, fire tables and campfires, with a maximum fuel are of three feet in diameter and two feet in height in a safe location away from combustibles or vegetation and are fully extinguished after use.
  2. Barbecue grills, smokers, and similar cooking appliances with a clean, dry firewood, briquettes, wood chips, pellets, propane, natural gas and similar fuels.

 

There may be more restrictive fire safety rules on and within 1/8 mile of Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) protected land, which exists throughout much of rural Washington County.  ODF restrictions may include prohibitions on campfires, smoking, target shooting, powered equipment, motorized vehicles, and other public/private landowner and industrial restrictions.  More details about ODF fire restrictions are available at  https://gisapps.odf.oregon.gov/firerestrictions/PFR.html

 

 

 

  • Residential “backyard” Outdoor Burning is limited to approved burn days and hours 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. We follow DEQ requirements and listed burn times on their website so it is important to check their website and look for the BACKYARD burning burn times at the bottom of the page.  DEQ updates their page daily.

CLICK HERE TO SEE IF TODAY IS A BURN DAY

  • Agricultural Debris Burning- In order to be considered agricultural burning, the fire must be conducted to remove the debris from a for profit agricultural operation.  Just because you live in a rural area, doesn't automatically allow you to burn during agricultural burn season.  This type of burning is allowed outside of high fire danger times, but typically January 1 to June 15, and October 1 to December 31 (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 at the bottom of the page.  DEQ updates their page daily.

  • Small warming, cooking or recreation fires are allowed.  These must always remain small and be attended  and put completely out when done.  Only clean dry wood or charcoal is allowed to burn in these types of fires, no garbage or household waste may be burned at any time.
  • When Banks Fire District declares a High Fire Danger Burn Ban, it will supersede these rules.