The Union County Board of Commissioners voted during this morning’s commission meeting to implement a countywide burn ban, effective immediately, following a unanimous recommendation from the Union County Fire Defense Board.
Under Union County Ordinance 2024-02, the Board of Commissioners may prohibit outdoor burning in all areas outside incorporated cities upon recommendation of the Fire Defense Board. Under a complete burn ban, all outdoor burning is prohibited except regulated agricultural field burning and the use of gas or pellet barbecues.
Emergency Manager Nick Vora said wildfire conditions in Union County have reached a dangerous level due to below-normal snowfall last winter and a dry spring that brought very little precipitation. Vegetation and forest fuels are exceptionally dry, and forecasts call for continued hot, dry weather. If a wildfire starts under these conditions, it is expected to spread more rapidly and burn with greater intensity than under typical conditions. With conditions this dry, a single spark could quickly ignite a fast-moving wildfire. At the same time, with several wildfires burning throughout the region, firefighting resources may be limited should a wildfire occur in Union County.
In addition to the county burn ban, forest officials have increased public use restrictions on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests because of extreme fire danger, the risk of human-caused fires, and public safety concerns. These restrictions prohibit campfires, fireworks, open burning, smoking, and off-road or off-trail vehicle travel. Additional information regarding forest restrictions is available at www.bmidc.org.
The burn ban was implemented due to continued hot, dry weather, critically dry fuels, heightened public safety concerns, and the potential for limited firefighting resources should a wildfire occur.