Small brushfire in NE Bend brings a big message: Weed burners, debris burning are not allowed in the city
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Bend Fire & Rescue crews quickly stopped a small, wind-driven brushfire Thursday morning that they said was started by a resident's weed burner - which they pointed out are illegal to use within the city limits, part of the city's ban on debris burning.
Crews responded just after 10 a.m. to the reported fire along NE Studio Road, arriving to find a 40-foot strip of ornamental juniper bushes ablaze in front of a house, Deputy Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki said.
"The occupant was attempting to stop the fire with a garden hose, but the wind kept the fire going," Derlacki said in a news release.
Fortunately, the first engine crew to arrive was able to quickly douse the flames, preventing the fire from spreading to the house or other juniper bushes.
No property damage was reported, except for the brush, and Studio Road was closed for a short time.
Derlacki said the fire was caused by the home's occupant using a weed burner to clear material from his driveway.
While weed burners are allowed in rural areas outside of Bend, while burning is open, they are not allowed in the city limits, as they are considered debris burning, Derlacki said. A city ordinance bans all debris burning within the city limits.
Derlacki said the occupant was given a warning, since this was a first offense.
Beyond that, Derlacki said, "This is a good reminder of why debris burning will be closed down a month early this year (on April 30), compared to last year. Even with the rain and snow over the past week, vegetation is still very dry and can easily ignite and spread."
"If you are finishing up burning this spring, we ask that you be extremely careful while doing it," he added. "Ensure all preparations are done before burning such as having water on hand, clearing combustibles away from the burn and having tools ready to go."
"You can call the burn information line before burning outside the city limits to ensure it is open that day as well, because if we see that winds are too strong, we can shut it down on a daily basis," the fire official said, noting that all debris burning will be closed throughout Central Oregon at the end of the day on Thursday, April 30.
