With the upcoming forecasted cool wet weather, local Fire Districts, Wasco County, and Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) have agreed to lift the seasonal burn ban on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at 12:01am. This will allow for burning in barrels and of small debris piles. Larger slash pile burning is not included in this lifting of the ban.
Escaped debris burns remain a leading cause of destructive fires on private and public lands. ODF Fire Managers and the Wasco County Fire Chiefs remind residents that they need to read the burn permit issued to them to ensure that burning is allowed on a given day, and to follow all instructions after obtaining any necessary permits. Wind is a big factor that can affect the spread of fire from debris piles. Watch the weather forecasts and ensure you have a fire safe area cleared around your pile, with water and tools readily available. Monitor your pile until it has consumed and is completely out, as unattended piles can rekindle and spread at a later time without warning. Fire Districts under ORS 478 as well as ODF under ORS 477 have the authority to recover costs involving response to a fire that, due to negligence, escapes from a debris burn and develops into a wildfire. In other words, an escaped burn can be extremely costly to a homeowner.
Our federal partners (US Forest Service & Bureau of Land Management) will also begin performing prescribed burns throughout the region. These prescribed burns will be conducted under carefully planned fuel and weather conditions with federal fire, state and local fire resources. These prescribed burns improve forest health and reduce the forest fuels in order to lower the wildfire risk to our communities that is ever present later in the season when the conditions are even more extreme.
Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, through grant funding from the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office, is funding free yard debris disposal at The Dalles Disposal Transfer Station for residents of the district, on Saturday October 19, October 26, November 2, November 9 and November 16, 2024. Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue Fire Chief Palmer encourages residents to choose this option rather than burning. “Escaped burning continues to be a significant factor in unwanted outdoor fires. It only takes a little wind and an ember to start a catastrophic fire regardless moderated weather conditions”.
Local burn information phone numbers:
Mosier Fire District – (541) 478-3333
Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue – (541) 296-9445
Tygh Valley Rural Fire Protection District – (541) 993-4266
Dufur Volunteer Fire Department – (541) 467-2349
Wamic Rural Fire Protection District – (541) 544-2338
Juniper Flat Fire Protection District – (541) 328-6388
Shaniko Volunteer Fire Department – (503) 508-4688
Antelope Fire Department – (541) 489-3201
Maupin Fire Department – (541) 395-2698
Oregon Department of Forestry – (541) 296-4626
o Permits are issued on private land south of the Mosier & MCFR Districts.
o This includes property within Tygh Valley, Wamic and Juniper Flats Rural Fire Districts.