Bend-area outdoor burning closed though Sunday

The Bend Fire Department and the Deschutes County Rural Fire Protection District #2 have closed all outdoor burning through Sunday due to predicted warm, dry and windy weather.

The closure and burning status will be reevaluated over the weekend, officials said Thursday.

Under the predicted weather conditions, fires become much more resistant to control efforts, Bend Fire Battalion Chief Dave Howe said.

“This weekend is a great opportunity to clean up any dead vegetation and flammable materials around homes, clear gutters, eaves and roofs of needles, ensure that nearby trees on your property are limbed up so fire cannot extend into the canopy, and to help your neighbors do the same,” Howe said.

This is the second FireFree weekend, where you can drop off yard debris and dead brush at the Knott Landfill or the west-side location (Skyliners Road just past Miller Elementary School) for free. Hours are 8 AM until 4 PM.

“Please help keep Central Oregon safe from fire by observing the burn ban and by making your property more fire-resistant,” Howe said.