La Pine RFPD: Outdoor debris-burning season over

As of Monday, residential debris burning is now closed for the remainder of the 2013 wildfire season, the La Pine Rural Fire Protection District said.

Expect a re-opening in late September/early October. officials said.

The La Pine Fire District strongly encourages citizens to continue to FireWise properties to protect from wildfire.

Options for pine needle and ladder fuel debris disposal at this time are to chip on site, or haul to the county transfer site, and/or pile and cover the materials in a safe location and burn later in the fall, after the first snow.

Note that campfires and barbecues are still permissible, unless fire conditions go to the extreme level and a total burn ban is enacted.

Campfires are allowed only in established and approved campfire rings no larger than 3 feet in diameter and must use cut firewood and/or charcoal briquettes. A shovel and bucket of water is required at every campfire and it must be dead out before you leave the site.