THE GORGE — Burn bans are active in Hood River, Wasco and Klickitat counties, prohibiting all outdoor burning with limited exceptions. Oregon’s Department of Forestry (ODF) and Washington’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have also implemented seasonal restrictions on outdoor activities, and all policies remain in effect until lifted by each respective county or agency.
In Hood River and Wasco counties, open fires, including campfires, charcoal coals, cooking fires and warming fires are prohibited on all lands protected by ODF, except in designated areas. The use of portable appliances like camp stoves and fire pits using liquified or bottled fuels is allowed in clear areas free of flammable vegetation, so long as you have a 2.5-pound fire extinguisher or water and a shovel. Those materials are required while traveling on all ODF-maintained roads.
Chainsaw use alongside the grinding, cutting or welding of metal is also banned between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m., as are fireworks at all times. Use of motor vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, is prohibited as well, except on improved roads. Visit odfcentraloregon.com/ for more information.
On lands under DNR protection in Klickitat County, campfires are only allowed in designated campgrounds. All other outdoor burning is prohibited, but DRN permit burning is still allowed subject to the conditions of the permit. Fireworks and incendiary devices, such as exploding targets, sky lanterns or tracer ammunition, are illegal on all DNR-protected lands. The agency may alter restrictions as fire season continues. Visit burnportal.dnr.wa.gov/ to get additional details.
As for county exceptions, enclosed devices that burn solid fuels, such as barbecues and smokers, and liquid-fuel-burning stoves with a shutoff valve are allowed in Klickitat. With approval from Code Compliance Officer Jenne Patterson, White Salmon residents can also use small outdoor fire pits. Both Bingen and White Salmon have banned fireworks outright, but Klickitat County permits fireworks for a limited window on July 4 and New Year’s Eve.
In Hood River County, propane, natural gas or briquette barbeques that meet applicable federal, state and local requirements are allowed. Residents can use outdoor fires for cooking with approval from the fire department, and motorized off-highway vehicle use is restricted on most county forest trails.
The use of fireworks is prohibited in Hood River and Wasco counties while burn bans are in effect. The City of Hood River prohibits the sale of all consumer fireworks and restricts their use to New Year’s Eve between 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.
For more information on county-specific regulations, visit the websites below:
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