Backyard Burning in Parts of Marion County Ends June 15th

Backyard burning ends June 15th in parts of Marion County

(SALEM) - All open and backyard burning will be prohibited beginning June 16th in those portions of Marion County that lie within the Santiam Unit of Oregon Department of Forestry's North Cascade District.

The Department of Forestry is cooperating with several local fire departments including Idanha-Detroit, Gates, Mill City, Lyons, Stayton, Sublimity, Silverton, Drakes Crossing, Aumsville, Turner and Jefferson. Only permitted and approved logging slash burning and agricultural burning will be allowed depending on weather conditions.

The intent of the restrictions is to reduce the incidence of open debris burns escaping control, which threatens forestlands as well as residential property.

The restrictions will extend through Sept. 30th or later, depending on fire danger.

The open burning restrictions coincide with the current air-quality rules set forth by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Those rules already forbid open burning within three miles of cities over 1,000 in population and six miles from cities over 50,000 in population during the June 15th through Sept. 30th period. The burn restrictions expand the geographical scope to include areas outside the three- and six-mile limit.

Rural fire agencies and the Oregon Department of Forestry have the authority to enforce and regulate the burn restrictions. Under Oregon Revised Statute Chapter 477, the department may issue citations for violation of the burn restrictions within the North Cascade District.

For more information on the open burning restrictions as well as advice on safe debris disposal, call the Department of Forestry's Lyons office, (503) 859-2151, or the local fire department.