Oregon Department of Forestry declares an end to fire season

EASTERN OREGON – (Release from ODF) As of 12:01 am, October 22nd, 2021, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) will terminate fire season for forestlands protected by the Northeast Oregon District. This includes over 2 million acres of private, state, county, municipal and tribal lands protected by ODF. The Northeast Oregon District includes lands in the following counties: Union, Baker, Umatilla, Wallowa and small portions of Grant, Morrow and Malheur counties.

“Although the weather conditions are cooler, and some precipitation has fallen around the region, there’s still a chance of fires escaping on dry and windy days. There are all kinds of opportunities for folks to get out and enjoy the outdoors, but we are still asking everyone to be cautious.” Said Justin Lauer, acting Pendleton Unit Forester.

The end of fire season means landowners protected by ODF can burn residential yard debris and burn barrels without a permit. This does not relieve landowners or forest operators of lawful responsibilities concerning the safe burning of debris or slash piles.

“Landowners with large debris piles or slash piles should exercise extreme caution. It is still very early in the fall and there is likely drier weather ahead of us. Waiting for more precipitation is a good way to mitigate the risk of an escaped burn. Landowners who have escaped fires can be held liable for extra suppression costs related to the containment of the fire.” Lauer stated.

Specific Smoke Management/Burning Advisory Information:

• If you are under the protection of a rural or city fire department, please be sure to follow their burning restrictions. Additionally, burning within the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) requires a permit from CTUIR. You must follow all requirements as outlined in the permit. Burn permits for burn barrels or small amounts of yard debris are not required on lands protected only by ODF Northeast Oregon District.

• Burning slash from forestry and logging activities requires a Notification of Operation/PDM from ODF. In addition to this permit, landowners are required to obtain a smoke management permit from their local ODF office. Before burning in northeast Oregon, it is also required to obtain the smoke management weather forecast. For smoke management forecasts visit the following website: http://www.odf.state.or.us/…/fire_protection/Daily/neo.htm

The Northeast Oregon District of the Oregon Department of Forestry would like to thank all our landowners, forest operators, the public and interagency partners for their efforts in fire prevention, detection, and suppression activities this season.

To report a fire, call the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center at (541)963-7171, or dial 9-1-1.

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