PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Days ahead of an excessive heat warning for the Portland metro rolling into the weekend, regional officials announced burn bans are either in effect immediately or in the coming days.
At this time, both Portland and Washington County have burn bans in place. A burn ban takes effect in Clackamas County on Wednesday, while a Clark County ban begins Friday.
Details for the announced burn bans are below, but all are very similar. Simply put: Don't burn things. Don't use fire recreationally.
An excessive heat warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for the Portland area for Thursday through Sunday. Temperatures are expected to hit triple digits over the weekend.
The burn ban was issued by the Portland Fire & Rescue Fire Marshal "due to forecasted high temperatures, limited rainfall, and ongoing dry conditions."
The ban includes prohibitions against recreational campfires, fire pits, yard debris and agricultural burning. It also restricts open burning, even if a permit was issued for one, until further notice.
Though some types of burning are still permitted, such as outdoor barbecuing, officials are still urging residents to use "extreme caution." Safety precautions include maintaining a 10-foot barrier between outdoor cooking and anything combustible, such as fences, shrubbery, or siding. In addition, charcoal briquettes should be disposed of properly, with their ashes covered in a metal container far away from combustibles and made wet for a few days before disposing permanently. People should also extinguish cigarettes or cigars completely before disposing.
Those in rural areas are advised to create defensible space by keeping growth surrounding homes and structures at bay and keeping access to firefighting equipment readily available.
The burn ban in Washington County began Monday.
The Washington County burn ban prohibits
The Washington County burn ban does not prohibit:
A burn ban takes effect for all areas within Clackamas Fire on July 3 at 12:01 a.m. The fire danger level will move to moderate. This means no backyard, agriculture, or slash burning. BBQs, fire pits, and recreational fires are allowed, but strongly discouraged.
All land clearing and residential burning in Clark County will be banned until further notice beginning at 12:01 a.m. July 5.
The Interim Fire Marshal is rescinding all burning permits issued prior to the ban. Permits can be reissued or extended when the ban is lifted. The burning restrictions do not apply to federally managed lands.
KOIN 6 News will continue to follow this story.
