Fire Season will begin throughout ODF-protected land in Washington County, starting at 1:00 am on July 11. Fire season is determined by the State Forester when vegetation becomes dry and fires become harder to control.
Fire season restrictions that go into effect in ODF Protection Areas within Washington County on July 11, are as follows:
* The use of fireworks will be prohibited.
* Debris burning will be prohibited.
* Burn permits will be required for any burning and the burn site must be inspected by ODF prior to ignition.
Warnings and citations will be issued by ODF should individuals be found burning without permits in ODF Protection Areas in Washington County. Individuals wishing to obtain a burn permit through ODF should call the ODF Forest Grove District office at 503-357-2191 or the ODF Forest Grove dispatch center at 503-359-7424.
A distinction should be noted regarding the burn ban; the declaration applies to ODF protected land, and not areas protected by a structural fire service or district (for example, Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue, Hillsboro Fire District, etc). The Fire Season declaration by the State Forester does move structural fire agencies to a heightened state of readiness for wildfires, and is the first step in moving towards a countywide Burn Ban in the near future. Once a countywide Burn Ban is declared, there will be no burning of any kind allowed in Washington County.
Kevin Weeks
Oregon Department of Forestry