April 6, 2020 3:15 a.m. 
In response to the “Stay Home, Save Lives” Executive Order to reduce the effects of the COVID-19 virus, a coalition of Oregon state agencies are asking Oregonians to voluntarily refrain from conducting outdoor burning.
The release from the Oregon Department of Forestry said many residents use fire as a necessary tool to manage their lands, including industrial forest owners, farmers, small woodlands owners, and rural residents. It said that smoke from fires during the current pandemic may result in a number of negative consequences for the public and first responders:
*Smoke inhalation can cause upper respiratory symptoms, which could be incorrectly attributed to COVID-19, leading to unnecessary testing or self-isolation.
*Exposure to smoke and other forms of air pollution can increase the risk of contracting infectious respiratory disease such as COVID-19, increase the severity of existing respiratory infections and worsen underlying chronic respiratory conditions.
*There is a severe shortage of personal protective equipment to reduce smoke exposure at this time.
*First responders and other emergency services are operating at a reduced capacity and have limited resources to respond to out-of-control fires.
To avoid health impacts, Oregonians are being asked to refrain from conducting outdoor burning activities until further notice. Burning that can be delayed includes debris burning around one’s property, burn barrels, industrial burning, slash and forest burning and agricultural burning that would impact neighbors.
Those who must conduct outdoor burning, should check with their local fire agency to see if outdoor burning is still allowed.