Multi-County Burn Ban Begins Thursday

BEAVERTON, OR — A multi-county burn ban takes effect Thursday and will continue until weather conditions change and decrease potential fire danger in the affected areas.

Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue officials on July 4 announced the burn ban would begin July 5, prohibiting specific kinds of burning in Washington, Multnomah, Clackamas, and Yamhill counties. The ban is being imposed by local law enforcement agencies directed by the Oregon Department of Forestry.

The ban prohibits the following:

• backyard and other open burning of yard debris, branches, and the like;
• agriculture burning, which could include agricultural waste, crops, and fields; and
• other land-clearing burn events, such as demolition or slash burning.

Not included in the ban are small backyard fire pits or outdoor portable fireplaces, such as a chimeneas, fueled by clean, dry firewood, or natural gas.

The non-prohibited fire pits must be within a specific size range, however: a maximum of 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet high.

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Any person who violates the ban or does not meet the requirements for non-prohibited burning risks fines and being held liable for all costs associated with fire damage and extinguishment by fire agencies.

For tips on how to protect your home and ensure your personal fire doesn't turn into a catastrophe, visit TVFR.com.

For questions about campfires at designated campsites, contact the Oregon Department of Forestry at 503-357-2191.

Image via Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue