Burn permit information articles

This letter recently went out to landowners/operators in the Prineville Unit, but the message is valuable for landowners across the region who may have burned debris or other material.  As the temperatures warm there is potential for any remaining heat or flame to rekindle. Dear Landowner or Operator, This letter is a reminder to check your burn piles to ensure that they are DEAD OUT. Burn piles can smolder for several months, even though there may not be any visible smoke or flame. As the weather gets warmer and drier, burning in the piles becomes more active....

Open burning within ODF's Central Oregon District may require a permit.  Please contact your local ODF Office if you are uncertain whether a permit is required.  Sometimes a permit from your local fire department is needed, rather than from the Department of Forestry.  Typically burning small yard debris piles within a local fire department's jurisdiction will be directed by the fire department.  All burning of logging slash requires a permit from ODF.  Please follow all directions from the burn permit or burn line. Open burning (other than...

Sunday, July 1, 2018 at 12:01am, the Oregon Department of Forestry, The Dalles Unit will enter the annual Burn Ban.  This means no open burning is permitted in Hood River and Wasco counties, including burn barrels and debris piles.   All existing permits will be void until the burn ban is lifted.  Some permits for agricultural burning may still be obtained through ODF or your local fire agency.  The ban is a coordinated effort between State, City and Rural Fire Districts, who will monitor and enforce illegal activity.  If you see illegal...

As of 12:01 a.m. on June 1, 2018 open burning, including burn barrels is prohibited on lands protected by the Central Oregon District within the John Day and Prineville Units.  This includes lands in Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson, Lake, Grant, Wheeler, Gillliam, Morrow, Umatilla, and Harney counties. Burning in barrels with a valid permit is allowed in The Dalles Unit which includes portions of Wasco and Hood River counties. Debris pile burning is prohibited.  Effective July 1, 2018 all burning, including burn barrels will be prohibited.

[John Day, Ore.] Beginning June 1, 2018 open burning will no longer be allowed on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry’s John Day Unit.  This includes burn barrels, slash from logging activities or hazard mitigation work, and backyard debris.  Landowners are encouraged to use alternate methods to dispose of this debris or wait until after fire season when weather and fuel conditions pose a low risk of fire escaping.  Escaped debris burns are the leading human-caused fire issue in Oregon. Operators and landowners who do not comply with...

The recent weather in the Gorge has given all residence a great opportunity to kick spring cleanup into full gear.  We hope that everyone is taking advantage of this time to create good defensible space around their homes, as well as taking care of the home itself.  The Oregon Department of Forestry would also like to take the time to remind everyone to practice safe burning.  As fire season is fast upon us, we would like to remind everyone to practice safe burning habits.  There have been a few escaped debris burning fires in the Gorge and South...

As a cooperative effort between The Oregon Department of Forestry, and local fire agencies within Hood River and Wasco Counties, the Burn Ban in Wasco county and the modified Burn Ban in Hood River county will be lifted as of 1:00 am on October 14th 2017.  This applies to burn barrels and small back yard piles.  At this time large industrial piles or fuels treatment project piles are not being allowed.  Burning permits are still required for all outdoor burning activities.  Make sure you have a valid permit from either the Oregon Department of...

A Burn Permit is required for burning yard debris or forestry slash, including material from defensible space activities in the Prineville-Sisters and The Dalles units.  Uncontrolled and escaped debris fires pose a significant threat to adjacent fuels. To minimize risk of escaped fire never leave a fire unattended, have firefighting tools on-site, and follow your burn permit restrictions.  Consider covering burn piles to keep the fuels dry and waiting until later in the fall/winter to burn when the risk of an escaped burn is minimal. Uncontrolled fire, or...

Debris burning, including burn barrels, is prohibited on lands inside Oregon Department of Forestry's Central Oregon District. Escaped and rekindled burns account for a significant portion of the human caused fires each year within the District. The intent of banning open fires is to eliminate this potential during fire season when fire danger is high and the risk of rapid spread is increased.  Firefighting resources working to put out preventable human caused fires contributes to long term fatigue and could prevent firefighters from being able to respond in a...

Effective immediately all  debris and slash burning on lands protected by Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) John Day Unit is prohibited.  This includes private ownership in Grant, Morrow, Gilliam, Harney, Umatilla, and Wheeler counties which are part of ODF’s Central Oregon District.  Fuel conditions and changing weather patterns have increased the risk of rapid fire spread from uncontrolled fires.  If you have questions regarding burning on land protected by ODF in the John Day Unit please call 541-575-1139. Last year in an effort to improve...

The 2016 Fire Season for lands protected by Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Central Oregon District (COD) will terminate at 12:01 am October 14, 2016.  Powerful winter storms are expected to cross central Oregon starting today, bringing moisture and cooler conditions, reducing the risk of wildfire.  “Reducing is the key word,” says Ben Duda, Sisters’ Assistant Unit Forester.  “We all need to be cautious and responsible in our activities.  Just because fire season is over doesn’t mean things won’t burn.” COD firefighters have responded to...

ODF’s Central Oregon District will terminate Regulated Closure for private lands in central Oregon October 5, 2017 at 12:01 am.  Fire season is still in effect, and MH-1 and MH-4 remain at Industrial Fire Precaution Level 1. While restrictions on campfires and warming fires has been lifted, burn barrels and burning of debris may still be prohibited.  Check with your local ODF office.   Restrictions on activities such as chainsaw use, off-road vehicle use and mowing of dried grass has also been lifted.  District Forester Mike Shaw stated, “With the...

Fire Season for Central Oregon District was implemented June 3, 2016.  Burn permits MAY be allowed for non-industrial burning.  Follow all restrictions on the burn permit, including calling the local burn information line prior to ignition.

Oregon Department of Forestry's Central Oregon District terminated fire season October 24, 2015.  Burn permits are required for all open burning.  Contact your local fire department or Oregon Department of Forestry office for information. Follow all restrictions on the burn permit, including calling the local burn information line prior to ignition.

Oregon Department of Forestry's Central Oregon District terminated fire season October 24, 2015.  Burn permits are required for all open burning.  Contact your local fire department or Oregon Department of Forestry office for information. Follow all restrictions on the burn permit, including calling the local burn information line prior to ignition.