WASCO CO. — The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), Wasco County Board of County Commissioners, and county fire districts are issuing a debris burn ban that will go into effect beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, June 10. The timing of this debris burn ban coincides with ODF’s Central Oregon District declaring fire season, which will also occur at 12:01 a.m. on June 10.
The purpose of the debris burn ban is to ensure the safety of Wasco County residents and is an effort to prevent human caused wildfires from occurring as we go into the 2024 summer fire season. While we have had a mild spring, wildfire safety is of the utmost importance to fire managers across Wasco County. Human activities are the number one cause of wildfire starts in Oregon and this burn ban aims to reduce that statistic. We urge all residents to abide by these restrictions and educate those who may be unaware of their importance.
This debris burn ban restricts the use of fire to dispose of backyard woody material through general property clean up, or from slash created from forestry work, and includes slash piles and burn barrels. The ban differs from other restrictions administered through ODF’s Regulated Use Closure (like public use restrictions), which typically goes into effect in early July. Until Regulated Use Closure goes into effect, activities such as small campfires are still allowed.
During this time, we encourage residents to check piles they burned through the spring to ensure there is no residual heat that could rekindle as conditions heat up and dry out. In addition, residents are encouraged to use alternative methods for disposing of yard debris such as composting or chipping. We thank everyone for acting in the prevention of wildfire ignitions and keeping our communities safe. For additional information on ODF’s Central Oregon District, including Wildfire Restrictions & Closures, contact information, and unit offices, please visit www.ODFcentraloregon.com.
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