In collaboration with the Oregon Department of Forestry, the Benton County Fire Defense Board, representing the fire agencies of Adair, Alsea, Blodgett, Corvallis and Corvallis Rural, Hoskins-Kings Valley, Monroe and Philomath, announced a delay in the start of the fall outdoor burning season.
Originally set for Oct. 1 fire defense board will evaluate conditions during its Oct. 17 meeting to determine whether to open burn season or extend the closure.
The decision to delay the fall burning season was driven by ongoing fire risk conditions and safety concerns, the board said. Factors related to temperature, low humidity, precipitation and wind can create an elevated risk of wildfires spreading rapidly if outdoor burning restrictions are ended too soon.
When fall outdoor burning season opens, there will be specific hours and days that are allowed for burning and a permit is required through the Philomath Fire and Rescue website. Burn hours are updated online daily or the public can call the burn line at 541-929-5903.
Last week, Philomath firefighters extinguished an unpermitted burn pile with painted wood that was unattended with no water supply, Deputy Fire Chief Rich Saalsaa said.
Burning during this extended closed season could significantly worsen the current fire situation, the agency said through a news release. As a result, the Benton County Fire Defense Board and ODF have enacted more stringent regulations to ensure public safety.
“It is critical for residents to comply with these restrictions to avoid further strain on firefighting resources and help prevent additional fires,” the news release reads.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality offers some alternatives to open burning:
- Recycle paper products.
- Dispose of waste at a landfill.
- Compost yard debris and kitchen scraps.
- Reuse old lumber.
- Use a chipper to create mulch or compost.
- Organize a neighborhood cleanup day.
- Take hazardous materials like oil-based paints, solvents, garden chemicals, and car fluids to a hazardous waste collection site. Burning these materials is illegal and dangerous.
For updates on the outdoor burning season, check the Willamette Valley Open Burning Announcement.