Burning Season: Outdoor burning is only permitted from the end of fire season, generally October 1st through December 15th and March 1st through June 15th, or the start of fire season, whichever happens first. Within these time periods, specific weather conditions such as inversions, high winds or low humidity will still prohibit burning. The DEQ has a daily burning advisory on their website to account for all these variables. The advisory includes start and stop times for any day that burning is allowed. http://smkmgt.com/burn.php
The Adair Rural Fire & Rescue district follows this daily DEQ website advisory for backyard burning.
Backyard Burning
Backyard Burning is the building and burning piles of yard debris consisting of branches, brush, stumps, and other vegetation. It is regulated daily by the DEQ and ARF&R. No backyard burning is ever allowed during a BURN BAN. The following information will help you determine if backyard burning is allowed on any given day.
The Adair Rural Fire & Rescue district follows the daily DEQ advisory for “backyard burning”. However, the ARFD Chief has the authority to make a local decision if warranted that will be clearly announced on this webpage. If there is a “BURN BAN” prohibiting all outdoor open flames, it will be listed on the DEQ webpage.
Steps to Determine if Backyard Burning is Allowed in the Adair Rural Fire & Rescue District:
1) Go to “Willamette Valley Open Burning Announcement” http://smkmgt.com/burn.php
2) Locate the section: “Backyard burning inside special control areas” and follow the regulations for that day. The website will say in bold if backyard burning is allowed and during what times.
NOTE: There is no need to call the fire station to get daily backyard burning information as indicated on the DEQ smkmgt website. Adair follows the information posted in the section “Backyard burning inside special control areas.”
Please remember smaller piles are easier to manage. Do not ignite piles on hot or windy days. Backyard burning must be constantly attended and only during the posted hours on authorized burn days
Backyard burning cannot involve any domestic, demolition, industrial and commercial waste. No Garbage.
The DEQ specifically prohibits the following:
- Rubber and plastic products.
- Tires.
- Wet garbage.
- Petroleum and petroleum-treated materials.
- Asphalt or industrial waste.
- Any material that creates dense smoke or noxious odors.
It is against the law to conduct any open burning that:
- Unreasonably interferes with enjoyment of life or property.
- Creates a public or private nuisance.
- Creates a hazard to public safety.
Recreational and Warming Fires
Recreational and warming fires are for the purpose of cooking and warming.
These fires are not regulated by the DEQ Daily burn advisory and only prohibited during a BURN BAN. The only cooking fires allowed during a BURN BAN are commercial gas fueled barbeques. no charcoal or wood barbeques are allowed during a BURN BAN.
There are rules associated with recreational and warming fires that will be enforced by ARF&R.
Recreational fires must be in approved pits made of non-combustible materials no greater than 3 feet in diameter and a minimum of 3 feet from any other combustible material. The pit must be 10 feet from all structures as measured by the roof overhang, a fence or vegetation. The pile and flames shall be less than 2 feet in height. A flaming fire must be constantly attended and have an immediately available means to extinguish it such as a garden hose, fire extinguisher or shovel and sand.
Small amounts of paper may be used to start recreational fires. Once ignited, they are strictly clean wood or charcoal. Scrap lumber, yard debris and garbage are not allowed.
Recreational fires should not be built anytime or anyplace embers could escape.