2024 Fire Season starts

Fire Season will officially begin on Monday, July 1, 2024, at 1 a.m. This will affect all lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry in the Northwest Oregon Forest Protection District. This area includes all State, private and BLM forest land in the Tillamook, Astoria, and Forest Grove Districts, which consists of Tillamook, Washington, Yamhill, Clatsop, Columbia, and Multnomah Counties, as well as portions of Lincoln County.

For up-to-date information on public and industrial restrictions go to the following website: http://www.oregon.gov/odf/pages/FIRE/precautionlevel.aspx.

With fire season in effect, forest operators must have required fire equipment at the site of their operation and are reminded to inspect their fire equipment to ensure it is ready and can pass inspection. Forest operators must also provide a fire watch for each operation after equipment is shut down at the end of each day. Fire season rules also prohibit smoking while in or traveling through any “operation area” and prohibit the use of fuse and caps for blasting on forest land. **Fire Weather Zones NW-1, NW-2, NW-3 will start out at Industrial Fire Precaution Level 1, effective July 1, 2024. For the general public the fire level will be at Low (Green). IFPL changes and fire season information may be obtained by contacting your nearest ODF office or by visiting the website above.

For the general public, burning permits are required for open pile burning and burn barrels. Residents that live within a city fire department district or rural fire protection district, will need to contact their local fire department for burn permit requirements.

In Tillamook County, the Oregon Department of Forestry issues burning permits for open pile burning and burn barrels. Effective July 15, there is a countywide ban on all burning and no permits will be issued. Burn permits may be obtained until July 14. There is no fee for the burn permit, but an on-site inspection with the landowner is performed prior to issuing a permit. Information about burning permits and how to obtain a permit is available by calling the Oregon Department of Forestry at 503-815-7056 (24 hour line), or you may contact your local fire department.

It is also a good reminder that fire can be a hazard at any time of year if steps are not taken to use fire safely. Whenever you use fire, whether for debris burning or enjoying a campfire, use these steps to prevent your fire from turning into the next wildfire.

• Never leave your fire unattended.

• When burning debris, always have a hose and shovel at the fire to prevent the fire from spreading.

• Check with your local fire protection agency prior to burning. (Most rural fire protection districts require a burn permit year-round.)

• If camping, ensure your campfire is in a designated area.

• Always make sure your campfire is out cold before leaving.

• On the beach, keep your campfire far from beach grass and driftwood piles.

Forest users may obtain information about state forest lands, industrial fire restrictions and public fire restrictions by contacting your local ODF office or through our website, blogs and social media:

• Tillamook District office 503-842-2548

• Forest Grove District office 503-357-2191

• Columbia City Unit office 503-397-2636

• Astoria District office 503-325-5451

• www.fgdfire.com

• http://tillamookstateforest.blogspot.com/

• http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Fire/Pages/Restrictions.aspx

• https://www.facebook.com/oregondepartmentofforestry

• https://twitter.com/ORDeptForestry?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw