Backyard Debris Burning – How To Do It Safely, May 13

May is Wildfire Awareness Month, and the ideal time to reduce the excess vegetation around your home that could pose a wildfire threat. As you begin spring clean-up, Keep Oregon Green, the Oregon Department of Forestry, and the Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal urge you to consider chipping or recycling your yard debris. If burning is the only option to dispose of woody material, fire officials urge landowners to follow safe burning practices. “If you do burn your debris, use common sense and follow safety rules,” says State Fire Marshal Jim Walker. “This can prevent most debris burn-caused wildfires, and keep lives and property safe.” An abnormally dry winter and dismal spring snowpack has set the stage for what is predicted to be a severe wildfire season ahead. Escaped debris burns are the leading human-caused wildfire issue in Oregon, particularly in the shoulder seasons when people think it is safe and permissible to burn. The Oregon Department of Forestry spent over $280,000 in 2014 on fires caused by escaped debris burning. A burn pile is less likely to escape control by following some simple safety tips: Call before you burn – Burning regulations are not the same in all areas and can vary with the weather and fuel conditions. If you’re planning to burn, check with your local Oregon Department of Forestry district, fire protective association or air protection authority to learn if there are any current burning restrictions or regulations, and whether a permit is required. Know the weather forecast – Never burn on dry or windy days. These conditions make it easy for open burning to spread out of control. Clear a 10-foot radius around your pile – also make sure there are no tree branches or power lines above. Keep your burn pile small – A large burn may cast hot embers long distances. Small piles, 4×4 feet in dimension, are recommended. Add debris in small amounts as existing material is consumed. Always have water and fire tools on site – When burning, have a charged water hose, bucket of water, and shovel and dirt nearby to extinguish the fire. Drown the pile with water, stir the coals, and drown again, repeating until the fire is DEAD out. Stay with the fire until it is completely out – Monitoring a debris burn continually from start to finish until dead out is required by state law, to ensure that any escaped sparks or embers can be extinguished quickly. Go back and recheck old burn piles, as they can retain heat for several weeks and rekindle when the weather warms and wind begins to blow. NEVER use gasoline or other accelerants (flammable or combustible liquids) to start or increase your open fire. Every year, 55-60 percent of all burns treated at the Oregon Burn Center in Portland are the result of backyard debris burning. Burn ONLY yard debris – State regulations prohibit the open burning of any material that creates dense smoke or noxious odors. Escaped debris burns are costly – State law requires the proper clearing, building, attending and extinguishing of open fires any time of year. A first-time citation carries a $110 fine. If your debris burn spreads out of control, you are responsible for the cost of fire suppression and very likely the damage to neighboring properties. This can range from a few hundred to thousands of dollars. More tips on wildfire prevention, including campfire safety, motorized equipment use, and fire-resistant landscaping can be found on the Keep Oregon Green site, www.keeporegongreen.org.