May 7, 2020 10:40 a.m.
While the sunny days are a great time to work in the yard, officials with the Douglas Forest Protective Association urge caution for those using fire as a tool to burn yard debris.
DFPA Fire Prevention Specialist Kyle Reed said safety should be the first priority as escaped debris burns are the leading cause of wildfires in Oregon. He said “over the last 10 years, DFPA has suppressed 133 fires related to debris burning”. He said over half of those occurred outside of fire season, during the spring and fall months.
Reed said the unseasonably warm conditions in the forecast for Friday and Saturday pose an increased fire risk to the area, as most of the county has seen an unusually dry winter and spring that has resulted in drought conditions. Reed said residents are encouraged to refrain from burning when its abnormally warm or windy.
The DFPA release said residents should:
*Check with the local fire department to see if debris burning is allowed where they live.
*Consider alternatives to burning such as composting, chipping or recycling the material. If burning is the only option, consider covering the burn pile with plastic and waiting for safer conditions.
*Don’t burn prohibited materials. That includes rubber and plastic products, tires, garbage, petroleum, asphalt or industrial waste, and any material that creates dense smoke or noxious odors.
*Divide large debris piles into smaller piles. Those burn quicker and are easier to control.
*Before ignition begins, debris piles should be completely surrounded by a fire trail that is scraped down to mineral soil.
*Have a shovel and a charged garden hose at the burn site and stay with the fire until it is completely extinguished.
*Call 911 immediately if the debris burn escapes containment.
Reed said residents who have previously burned debris piles this spring are encouraged to go back and check the burned area to make sure the pile is completely extinguished.
Reed said those who choose to burn yard debris are liable for the fire suppression cost, and most likely the damages to neighboring property if their burn escapes containment.