Wildfire awareness month: Run-away debris burning leads human-caused wildfires
SALEM, Ore. – Fire departments and prevention groups urge everyone to
dispose of yard debris, rather than burn it. This year’s warm and dry
conditions have already caused fires to burn many acres quickly. Rather
than burning yard debris, you can help prevent wildfires by chipping or
recycling it.
The Oregon Department of Forestry has declared fire season for parts of the
state. This year about 180 fires have already burned about 1,900 acres. April’s
dry, warm conditions prompted some county-wide burn bans.
May is Wildfire Awareness Month. This is a great time to trim trees and tidy
up bushes and plants around your home that could easily catch fire. This is
especially true after this winter’s ice storm. Because of the dry weather, as
you begin spring clean-up, the Oregon Department of Forestry and Keep Oregon
Green urge you to consider alternatives to burning.
“The time to safely burn yard debris has passed,” said Keep Oregon Green
President Kristin Babbs. “Waiting until next fall or winter after heavy rains
prevents piles burned this spring from re-starting during the heat of the
summer. Burn piles can hold heat for several weeks and start again under warm,
windy conditions.” Babbs said delaying your burn plans will give the debris
more time to cure. You can cover a part of the pile with plastic to keep it dry
until it’s safe to burn.
If burning now is the only option to dispose of yard debris, fire prevention
specialists ask people to follow safe burning practices. The following tips can
help stop run-away burn piles:
- Call
before you burn -
Burning regulations vary by location depending on the weather and fuel
conditions. If you are planning to burn, check with your local Oregon
Department of Forestry district, fire protective association, or air
protection authority to learn about current burning restrictions or
regulations, and if you need a permit.
- Know
the weather -
Never burn on dry or windy days, because fires can spread out of control
more easily.
- Clear
a 10-foot buffer - Make sure there are no tree branches or power lines
above or fuels around your pile.
- Keep
burn piles small - Large burn piles can cast hot embers long distances.
Use small piles, maximum of four feet by four feet. Add only a little
debris as the pile burns, to keep it small.
- Always
have water and fire tools nearby - When burning, have a water hose on and ready or a
bucket of water, and shovel and dirt to put out the fire. Drown the pile
with water, stir the coals, and drown again, repeating until the fire is
out cold.
- Stay
with the fire until it is out cold – State laws requires monitoring of debris burn from
start to finish until it is out cold. This law is intended to ensure
sparks or embers that jump from the fire can be put out quickly. Recheck
burn piles. They can retain heat for several weeks and restart when the
weather warms up and winds blow.
- Never
use gasoline or
other flammable or combustible liquids to start or speed up your fire.
Every year, about 60 percent of the Oregon Burn Center cases are from yard
debris burning.
- Only
burn yard debris - State laws prohibit burning materials in the open
that create dense smoke or noxious odors.
- Costs
of run-away debris burns– State law requires the proper clearing, building,
attending and extinguishing of open fires all year. Citations can cost
$2,000. If your debris burn spreads out of control, you will have to pay
for putting the fire out, and likely the damage to your neighbors’
properties. This can be extremely expensive.
More tips on wildfire prevention, including campfire safety, motorized
equipment use, and fire-resistant landscaping can be found on the Keep Oregon
Green site, www.keeporegongreen.org/.
Find public use restrictions for Oregon Department of Forestry protected lands
here: https://gisapps.odf.oregon.gov/firerestrictions/PFR.html.
