Coos Forest Protective Association CFPA Home Page

Outdoor Burning

For Questions About Burning Logging Debris - click here

Burn permits are required by law when fire season is in effect for all types of burning.

However Coos FPA will no longer issue burn permits during fire season.

Call your nearest CFPA Office for more information or questions.

At any time the District can shut down (ban) burning all together even if you have a current burn permit. Any offense or violation can result in a Notice of Violation (a ticket), Suppression Efforts (the fire being put out by CFPA), and a Fire Invoice (the possibility of being charged suppression costs if an uncontrolled fire situation occurs).

BURNING FACTORS

Weather:  Extra caution is needed when weather conditions are unstable.  Wind, humidity and temperature play the biggest roles when determining the best time to burn debris.  Remember, high temperature results in low humidity, which increases the chances of a fire starting and spreading.

Time:  Depending on the severity of the weather, pay close attention to the time of day in which burning is conducted. Relative humidity tends to be at its highest during morning hours allowing for better control.

Site Preparation:  The steps needed to prepare the burn site are determined by the type of materials that are to be burned and the fuels in the surrounding area.  A fire trail must be clear of all flammable debris. Trails must encircle the entire burning area.

Fire Suppression Equipment:   The person burning must have a shovel and a supply of water on hand at the burn site.

Responsible Adult:  It is important to note that even if you burn outside of fire season it does not relieve you from responsibility for the payment of costs for suppression or for damages if the fire escapes control.  A capable, responsible adult must be present at all times until the fire is completely out.

INCINERATORS

The area and location of your incinerator should be clear of burnable materials around the burn site (dry grass, large limbs, stacks of wood, fences, etc.) as well as above the burn site (power lines, branches, buildings, etc.)

Burning material in a burn barrel or incinerator reduces the risk of a fire escaping. Be sure your barrel is metal and in good condition. You must have and use a heavy mesh screen of 14 gauge wire with holes no larger than 1/4 inch.

You must have a shovel, and a charged water hose (that reaches the barrel), and ground cleared around the barrel of all burnable materials for a safe distance. The incinerator is not to be unattended while burning.

No burning on windy days, or when the temperature is high and the humidity is low.

DEBRIS BURNING

Debris burning (pile burning) is a way of reducing forest litter on your property. This type of burn is typically done in the spring months and the fall months. The area and location of your pile should be clear of burnable materials around the burn site (dry grass, large limbs, stacks of wood, fences, etc.) as well as above the burn site (power lines, branches, buildings, etc.)

You must have a shovel, and a charged water hose (that reaches the pile), or a water source suitable for the burn and ground cleared around the pile of all burnable materials for a distance of 10-feet. Keep piles small and "feed" the pile as you burn. The pile is not to be unattended at any time while burning.

Household paper is not to be burned in an open debris pile, as these produce large hot ashes that escape the pile during burning, as well as items prohibited by DEQ. You can burn tree limbs, twigs, pinecones, leaves, and other forest litter. Stumps will not be approved during Closed Fire Season, nor will any burnable material, that in the opinion of the Fire Warden, will "hold heat" for extended period of time.

Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) regulations prohibit open burning of the following materials at any time, anywhere in Oregon:

Prohibited Materials in any type of BURNING

*  Rubber Products
*  Plastic
*  Wire Insulation
*  Automobile parts and tires
*  Wet garbage, including waste from food preparation
*  Petroleum and petroleum treated products
*  Asphalt or industrial waste
*  Animal remains
*  Any material that creates dense smoke and/or noxious odors