May is Wildfire Awareness Month; ODF provided helpful tips on debris burning
By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Tuesday, May 3rd, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER COUNTY – (Information from Oregon Department of Forestry- Northeast Oregon District) May is known as #WildfireAwarenessMonth. This month, #NEODistrict is going to bring you tips on being wildfire safe heading into #FireYear2022.
Our first tip concerns debris burning. This is the time when we’re all itching to get outside and clean up the debris that #winter has left behind. Oregon Department of Forestry Fire Prevention encourages folks to “check the conditions and not the calendar”. Conditions may be different depending on your location. Position on slope and aspect all play a role in how quickly things dry out. Making sure your burning location is safe should be your primary concern.
Additionally, knowing not only the current weather, but also the forecasted conditions can help you plan. The majority of escaped debris pile fires happen during windy conditions.
A few more tips:
-Call before you burn- make sure you know what the burning regulations are and that you have the correct permits/permissions to burn.
-Make your piles in an open area away from structures, trees, and powerlines.
-Create small and manageable piles.
-Don’t use gasoline or other accelerants.
-Clear an area of at least 3 feet in diameter around your pile. This area should be cleared to mineral soil to help prevent the spread to adjacent vegetation.
-Keep a shovel and source of water nearby.
-Make sure your pile is completely out before leaving it.
-Return over several weeks to make sure the pile is still out. The pile should have no heat and no smoke. Spring piles that were not completely put out have been known to smolder and ignite months later.
-Burn only yard debris. Environmental regulations prevent burning open burning of any material that creates dense smoke or noxious odors.
Remember, if you are found malicious, negligent, or willful in the escape of your debris burn, you could be responsible for the cost to put it out, along with the damage to neighboring properties.
#BurnSafely #knowbeforeyouburn #ORfire
