Bend Fire Dept. plea: Keep debris burning safe, legal

This time of year, many farmers, ranchers and land owners use fire to ready their land for the spring and summer growing season. This practice is a great way of eradicating noxious weeds, removing dead plant material and prepping the land for new crops.

But this practice can also be dangerous if not done properly. Bend Fire Department asks anyone doing any burning to follow these simple measures to prevent escaped burns and ensure their fires cause the least impact on their neighbors.

Debris burning is Central Oregon’s leading cause of human-caused wildfires, and every spring firefighters respond to a series of escaped debris burns across Central Oregon. In 2015, Bend Fire Department responded to 23 escaped debris burns that caused $10,000 in damage. But already in the past week we have had 5 escaped burns. Most of these escapes could’ve been avoided with some simple safety steps below.

All agricultural and commercial burning need a burn permit in areas covered by Bend Fire Department and Deschutes County Rural Fire Protection District #2. This includes field burning, large piles (larger than 6ft in diameter and 4ft in height) and ditch burning. Permits are needed for both large commercial fires and home hobby farms. When in doubt, call the Bend Fire Department to find out if a permit is needed. More information about safe burning practices can be found at www.bendoregon.gov/burninginfo.

Steps to lower your risk of an escaped fire:
–A current copy of the Bend Fire Department burn regulations must be on site – you can pick one up at any fire station or download one online at www.bendoregon.gov/burninginfo
–Commercial and agricultural burning requires a fire department permit. To have a permit issued call 541-322-6309 during normal business hours for an appointment to conduct a site inspection.
–Debris burning that falls within the size restrictions in the Burning Regulations do not need a permit but must follow all the requirements in the regulations
— Prior to lighting your fire, contact the Bend Fire Department burn information line at 541-322-6335 to ensure burning is open that day (check with your local fire department if you are not covered by Bend Fire Department or Deschutes County Rural Fire Protection District #2)
— Ensure you have plenty of clearance around the fire area: 50 feet clearance to structures including homes, sheds, barns and fences for most agricultural and commercial fires
— Ensure there are no combustibles for 10 feet surrounding your fire area to prevent the fire from spreading on the ground
— Only burn during daylight hours, fully extinguish your fire at night
— All fires need to be attended at all times
— Do not burn on windy days, if the wind picks up during the day, stop burning and fully extinguish your fire to ensure it does not spread out of your control
— Have appropriate fire extinguishing tools on hand such as a shovel and a hose
— When done burning ensure the fire area is cold to the touch, to ensure the fire is completely out
— Do not burn prohibited materials: plastics, garbage, stumps, wire insulation, auto bodies, mobile homes, rubber, all petroleum based products, or any animal, food service, industrial, commercial and construction waste.

NOTE: Open debris burning is banned within the city limits of Bend. Currently, areas outside of the city limits and within Deschutes County Rural Fire Protection District #2, can burn until the burning season is closed.