Umatilla County issues non-ag burn ban

By Terry Murry on Wednesday, July 3rd, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

(News release from Umatilla County) On July 3, 2024, the Umatilla County Board of Commissioners adopted an authorization declaring a temporary ban on all OPEN NON-AGRICULTURAL burning within the unincorporated areas of Umatilla County effective JULY 3, 2024 at NOON. This excludes land under the jurisdiction of the State of Oregon, the United States Government, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and areas covered by a rural Fire District. This NON-AGRICULTURAL burn ban is effective until further notice.

This order, as stated, means that the temporary ban is only for those areas under the jurisdiction of the Umatilla County Smoke Management Ordinance. It applies, but is not limited to, all non-agricultural open burning such as burn barrels, yard and garden debris piles, small scale residential burning, etc. This ban does not apply to enclosed, metal burn pits or grills.

Smoke Management permit holders are still REQUIRED to check for Burn Day status for Agricultural burning by calling (541)278-6397 to report their burn. Burn Day status can also be found on the County website, or Facebook (Umatilla County Smoke Management).

Burn bans are common this time of year due to dry conditions, air quality impacts from uncontrolled fires, and regulated haze reduction days for community events. Haze reduction events include the Umatilla County Fair, Milton-Freewater Festival, Walla Walla County Fair, Labor Day Weekend and the Pendleton Round-Up.

UMATILLA COUNTY OPEN BURNING JURISDICTIONS AND PERMITS

• Umatilla County has permitting jurisdiction over all agricultural field burning (>2 acres) and all orchards through the County Smoke Management Ordinance. Additionally, the county has jurisdiction over residential burning outside of fire districts.

• Established Rural Fire Protection Districts (taxed districts) have jurisdiction within their districts for residential burning (less than 2 acres, burn barrels, etc.) and fire protection, including permitting. Most Fire Districts currently have burn bans in effect.

For more information about this Non-Agricultural Burn Ban, or to report illegal burning, call the Umatilla County Planning Department at (541)278-6252 or Umatilla County Dispatch (541)966-3651 after 5 p.m. and on weekends. For more information about the Umatilla County Smoke Management Ordinance, call the Umatilla County Planning Department at (541)278-6252.