The fall outdoor burning season is now officially open with the Benton County Fire Defense Board’s announcement that an extended closure that had been in effect has ended.
The fire defense board’s action to lift the burn ban was made in collaboration with the Oregon Department of Forestry with the state agency’s Western Oregon District having the ultimate authority.
The opening of the outdoor burning season went into effect at noon Monday. Despite the late opening, it will still end Dec. 15.
Philomath Fire and Rescue’s deputy fire chief, Rich Saalsaa, said all burn permits will now be honored subject to the daily burn information, which can be found either by going online to the Smoke Management website or by calling 541-929-5903.
The Benton County Fire Defense Board represents the fire agencies of Adair, Alsea, Blodgett, Corvallis and Corvallis Rural, Hoskins-Kings Valley, Monroe and Philomath.
The fire defense board listed the following requirements that are applicable to any burning:
- You are responsible for any fire, smoke or odors created from open burning and for any damage that results from your fire.
- A responsible person must constantly attend any open burning.
- This person must be capable of and have the equipment to extinguish the fire.
- This person must also completely extinguish a fire before leaving it.
In addition, the fire defense boards lists the following as alternatives to burning:
- Recycle paper products when possible.
- Dispose of waste at a landfill.
- Compost yard debris and kitchen scraps.
- Reuse old lumber.
- Buy or rent a chipper and use chips for mulch and compost.
- Take hazardous materials, including oil-based paints, solvents, garden chemicals and car fluids to a hazardous waste collection event. Burning these materials is illegal and extremely dangerous.
Specific hours and days are allowed for burning and a permit is required through the Philomath Fire and Rescue website. As a reminder, slash burning also requires a permit from ODF, which can be reached by calling 541-929-3266.