Citing rising wildfire danger, Redmond Fire & Rescue will close outdoor burning on April 30th
REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Due to increasing wildfire risk and the onset of an early wildfire season, Redmond fire & Rescue said Monday that all outdoor debris burning in the fire district will close at midnight on Thursday, April 30, and a burn ban will take effect.
"Unseasonably warm and dry conditions, combined with declining fuel moisture, have significantly increased the potential for wildfires across the region," the department said in a news release.
"These conditions elevate the risk that escaped debris burns could quickly spread and threaten life, property, and natural resources," they added:
Here's the rest of the announcement:
Effective at midnight April 30th, all forms of outdoor burning—including yard debris burning—will be prohibited until further notice. This closure is intended to reduce the likelihood of human‑caused wildfires during a period of heightened fire danger.
As a reminder, the closure of outdoor debris burning prohibits all of the following:
1. Backyard or open burning (branches, yard debris, etc.). This includes burn barrels.
2. Agricultural burning (agricultural wastes, crops, field burning, ditches etc.).
3. Any other land clearing, slash, stump, waste, debris or controlled burning.
4. Bonfires
At this time, the burn ban does not include;
1. Small outdoor cooking, warming or recreational fires at residential properties. These include portable or permanent fire pits, fire tables, and campfires, with a maximum fuel area of three feet in diameter and two feet in height in a safe location away from combustibles or vegetation and are fully extinguished after use.
2. Barbeque grills, smokers and similar cooking appliances with clean, dry firewood, briquettes, wood chips, pellets, propane, natural gas, or similar fuels.
If conditions change, additional restrictions may be put in place. Residents can follow Redmond Fire & Rescue’s website, Facebook and Instagram pages for current information.
Redmond Fire & Rescue urges residents to take wildfire prevention seriously by fully extinguishing campfires, properly disposing of smoking materials, ensuring spark‑arresting equipment is maintained, and complying with all fire restrictions. Alternative disposal options, such as chipping, hauling, or composting yard debris, are encouraged.
Public cooperation is critical to preventing wildfires and protecting Central Oregon communities during this early fire season. Updates on fire restrictions and wildfire conditions will be provided as conditions change.
While outdoor burning is still open, residents are required to check Redmond Fire & Rescue’s website daily, www.rdmfire.org, to obtain a burn permit as burning conditions can change on a daily basis..
