Multnomah County Adjusts Burn Ban Due to Moderately Improved Conditions

June 27, 2015 14:25

  Follow @PDXFire

Portland Fire Chief Erin Janssens, who also serves as the Multnomah County Fire Defense Board Chief, has adjusted the county wide burn ban. With the increase in moisture content in the air and the decrease in the wind conditions, recreational fires, ceremonial fires and legal fireworks are again allowed. However, the conditions are dynamic and will adjust the burn ban as necessary.

Portland Fire & Rescue still wants everyone to take extra precautions. Outdoor burning is still prohibited in the City of Portland and Multnomah County. However, the following fires are legal within the city limits.

1. Cooking with standard barbecue equipment.

2. Ceremonial fires for large gatherings or institutions, when a permit from the Fire Marshal's Office is obtained. Written authorization from the Property Owner is required. This authorization needs to be signed, dated, and presented when applying for the permit.

3. Recreational fires defined as: burning clean, dry, cord type firewood as in a standard campfire type setting. When burning a fire of this type, you must build the fire in a pit or pan prepared for this purpose. The fire must not be larger than a standard campfire, less than 3 feet in diameter, with pile less than 2 feet in height.

General rules that apply to these legal, recreational fires:

1. A recreational fire located in a pit shall be no closer than 25 feet to a structure. Fires contained in fireplace type receptacles or Chimineas shall be no closer than 15 feet from a structure or the distance listed in the manufacture's instruction, whichever is less. When required by the Fire Marshal, outdoor burning device stacks shall be equipped with a spark arresting, 12 gauge wire mesh screen with openings of not less than 3/8" nor more than 1/2".

2. A responsible person shall be in attendance at all times and have approved fire extinguishing equipment close at hand.

3. The smoke from the fire must not be of a noxious quality or amount that causes complaints from the neighbors.

4. No garbage or similar material is to be burned in these fires.

5. Observe common safety practices while enjoying the recreational fire, e.g. cease burning if the wind picks up to 15 mph or higher, be careful with the consumption of alcohol by any persons around the fire, watch small children in the vicinity, etc.

Fireworks safety tips can be found at: http://www.portlandoregon.gov/fire/52947

*************

       

News Archives