In a special session today, the Union County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to implement the County Wide Burn Ban/Regulated Use restrictions at the recommendation of the Union County Fire Defense Board.  As specified in County Ordinance 2024-02, the commissioners may ban all fires outside incorporated cities within Union County.  No fires of any kind are allowed except regulated agricultural field burning and gas or pellet barbeques. 

Emergency Manager Nick Vora stated that the possibility of wildfire starts in Union County is at a dangerous level due to the prolonged period of hot and dry conditions. Additionally, the numerous wildfires across both our region and the state have resulted in a lack of available firefighting resources.  Conditions are very dry, and a single spark could easily ignite a quick-burning wildfire.

In addition to Union County fire restrictions, forest officials have increased public use restrictions on lands protected by Oregon Department of Forestry and the Umatilla and Wallowa Whitman National Forests due to high fire danger, the potential for human caused fires, and concern for public safety. The increased restrictions prohibit campfires, smoking, off-road/off-trail vehicle travel, chainsaw use, internal combustion engines, and generators.  Additional information regarding the forest restrictions can be found at www.bmidc.org.

Concern over continuing high temperatures, lack of moisture, the availability of dry fuels and a concern for a potential lack of available firefighting resources justified the implementation of the Burn Ban/Regulated Use of the Burn Ordinance.  The ordinance may be read in its entirety here: Burn Ordinance 2024-02