High Fire Danger Burn Ban In Effect In Washington County

Press release from the City of Hillsboro:

June 22, 2021

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High Fire Danger Burn Ban in Effect in Washington County

A High Fire Danger Burn Ban began on June 22, 2021, and remains in effect across all of Washington County, including the City of Hillsboro.

A City of Hillsboro ordinance provides residents and visitors with cleaner air and a safer community by limiting indoor burning during periods of poor air quality and banning outdoor burning of yard debris year-round.

The burn ban prohibits:

• Backyard burning of yard debris. (This is not allowed within the City of Hillsboro regardless of a burn ban.)
• Agricultural burning without a permit.
• Land clearing or slash burning without a permit.

The outdoor burn ban allows:

• Recreational fires three feet or less in diameter and two feet or less in height used for pleasure, religion, ceremony, cooking, or warmth.
• Portable outdoor fireplaces that are solid, fuel-burning, and constructed of steel, concrete (such as retaining wall blocks), clay, or other non-combustible materials.
• Barbeque equipment used in connection with a residence.
• Oregon-legal fireworks and permitted firework displays.

Given the high fire danger conditions, we discourage burning of any kind to limit the potential risk.

The burn ban is enacted by all fire agencies within the county based on the recommendation by the Washington County Fire Defense Board. Washington County fire agencies include Banks Fire District #13, Cornelius Fire Department, Forest Grove Fire Department, Gaston Rural Fire District, Hillsboro Fire & Rescue, and Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue.

Fire chiefs in Washington County encourage the public to use extreme caution with activities that could start a fire. It is everyone’s responsibility to prevent and be prepared for wildfires.

Burning restrictions are authorized under Oregon Revised Statute 478.960 and Oregon Fire Code 307.

Find more information on burning restrictions and air quality in Hillsboro.

This press release was produced by the City of Hillsboro. The views expressed here are the author’s own.