Per ORS 478-960 and 2025 Oregon Fire Code Chapter 307, the fire chief or his/her designee has the authority to regulate burning within the boundaries of the Scio Fire District.  The fire chief or his/her designee may prohibit burning in situations where he/she determines that a threat exists to public safety or threatens the subject property or surrounding property.

 

Burning trash is prohibited year-round. 

 

When a burn ban has been established, that notice will be posted on our website, Facebook page, and reader board at Fire Station 91.  In this situation, all outdoor fires including burn piles, fire pits, charcoal BBQs, and agricultural fires are prohibited.  Elevated gas BBQs will be allowed unless otherwise specified.

 

Backyard burning is the burning of natural vegetation (brush, tree limbs, leaves, sticks, etc.).  The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality established “burn season.”  Burn season is generally (Spring) March 1st through June 15th and (Fall) October 1st through December 15th.  During burn season, outdoor burning of natural vegetation (aka backyard burning) may be allowed, subject to environmental factors.  If you are planning on burning on a specific day within the dates allowed, please call the burn line after 8am on the morning you plan to burn to see if burning is allowed that day.  Outside of the dates listed above, backyard burning is not allowed.  For larger piles (generally larger than a human) or multiple piles, please contact the fire chief to discuss a burn plan.

 

Within the boundaries of the Scio Fire District’s response area, unless a burn ban is in place, fires in fire pits are allowed year-round.  Fire pits must be scratched down to bare dirt, lined with rocks or bricks, 3 feet or less in diameter, and the material being burned should be 2 feet or less in height.  Only clean, dry wood should be burned in fire pits.  Burning of trash is prohibited.  Tall grass in the vicinity of the fire pit should be mowed down.  You need to have an extinguishing method close by (garden hose, bucket of water, etc.) and a way to call 911.

 

After the harvest mid-summer, some grass seed fields are burned by farmers.  This process is managed by the Oregon Department of Agriculture and is limited to specific fields which have grown specific crops.  During a burn ban, fields are not allowed to be burned.  If there is no burn ban in place, field burning is allowed and will be managed by ODA.  For questions about field burning, contact ODA.

 

A portion of the Scio Fire District’s response area falls within the Oregon Department of Forestry’s purview.  ODF has similar, but sometimes stricter, rules on burning and outdoor use of power equipment during summertime.  This area is generally south of Hwy 226 and East of Richardson’s Gap.  If you live within that area and have questions about burning, contact ODF directly.

 

Additional questions about burning can be directed to the fire chief at (503) 394-3000 or chief@sciofire.org.