Glossary Of Open Burning Terms
Approved Clackamas Fire District #1 Burn Day
Open Burning is allowed only on specific days and during approved burning hours. These conditions are announced by the CFD1’s open burning information line 5503-742-2945. Burn days and times are set by ODA and ODF meteorologists and must also comply with DEQ and OSFM criteria. CFD1 may be more restrictive when establishing CFD1 burn days and times. Source: ORS 478.960, OAR 340-264, CFD1
Attendance When Conducting Open Burning
All outdoor fires shall be constantly attended until the fire is extinguished. The attendant shall have line-of-sight view and reliable communications available to summons assistance if needed. The attendant must have the tools and ability to extinguish the fire. A Special Burn Permit may include alternatives when issued. Source: OFC 307.5, CFD1
Fires-Out Time
The approved burn times announced by the CFD1 open burning information line include a time of day when all flames and smoke sources associated with open burning shall be extinguished and prohibition conditions are scheduled to be imposed. Special Burn Permit fires have a Fires-Out time specific to the conditions of the permit or at the termination of the permit. A CFD1 special burn permit must be in possession and on site to exceed established burn times. Source: ORS 240-266-0030, CFD1
Fire Season
The annual declaration of High Wildland Fire Danger in Clackamas County (usually mid July through October unless a season-ending Fall rain event occurs earlier in October) enacted by the Clackamas County Fire Defense Board Chiefs and Oregon Department of Forestry. A major contributing factor in enacting an annual CFD1 District wide burn ban is the declaration of Fire Season by ODF. Source: CCFDB, CFD1
Hazard To Public Safety
A fire shall be deemed a hazard to public safety when smoke from open burning impairs the visibility on a roadway, causes respiratory illness to others, or endangers others due to high or extreme fire danger conditions. Source: OAR 340-264-0010, OFC 307.5, OFC 307.1.1, CFD1
Interfering With Or Assaulting a Firefighter
A person commits the crime of interfering with a firefighter if the person, knowing that another person is a firefighter, intentionally acts in a manner that prevents, or attempts to prevent, a firefighter from performing the lawful duties of the firefighter. Interfering with a firefighter is a Class A misdemeanor. Assaulting a firefighter is a Class C felony. Circulating a report, known it to be false, concerning an alleged or impending fire, explosion, crime, catastrophe or other emergency is disorderly conduct in the second degree and is a Class B misdemeanor. Source: ORS 162.257, 163.208, 166.025.
Land Clearing Debris
Any waste generated by the removal of debris, logs, trees, or brush from any site in preparation for land improvement or construction projects. Land clearing to plant crops or raise livestock may be agriculture burning and likely requires a special burn permit. Land clearing in order to build a structure where the structure’s purpose is not for commercial agricultural is demolition waste. Source: CCFDB, CFD1, DEQ
Open Burning
Open Burning is any outdoor fire. This includes outdoor fire places, fire pits, and chimineas. Controlled fuel source appliances such as barbeques and gas flame pits are not regulated. Specifically, open burning is any outdoor burning when combustion air is not effectively controlled and combustion products are not effectively vented through a stack or chimney. Source: ORS 477.001 OAR 340-264-0010, 340-264-0030 (29) (d) CFD1
Open Burning Fire Safety
All fires must be controllable and require immediately available fire extinguishing equipment such as a garden hose connected to a water supply, a shovel, or a fire extinguisher. Larger fires may require a dedicated fire suppression crew and/or heavy equipment. All fires shall be constantly attended by a person knowledgeable in the use of the provided fire extinguishing equipment. Source: OFC 307.5, CFD1
Open Burning Seasons
The Open Burning seasons are limited to the approved burn days and times during March 1 – June 15 (Spring) and October 1 – December 15 (Fall). These seasons were established based on; fire danger in the summer and early fall, fuel moisture, seasonal weather patterns and atmospheric conditions most favorable in the Willamette Valley Air Shed for smoke rise and dispersal. Source: DEQ, CFD1
Practicable
The word practicable is used extensively in Oregon law and means, capable of being carried out or put into effect. The English thesaurus lists; feasible, realistic, possible and workable. Source; Microsoft Word program Dictionary and Thesaurus
Prohibited Materials
Materials prohibited from burning include, any garbage, plastic, wire insulation, automobile part, tires, asphalt, petroleum product, petroleum treated material, rubber product, animal remains, industrial waste, or any other material which emits dense smoke or noxious odors when burned. Source: DEQ, CCFDB, OFC 307.1.1, CFD1
Smoke And Odor Emissions
Materials to be burned must be dried to the extent practicable (capable of being done), loosely stacked to provide adequate air supply and periodically re-stacked to insure good combustion therefore avoiding smoldering fires. If the smoke or odor emission offensively affects others the condition must be remedied or the fire must be extinguished. Source: OAR 340-264-0010(3), 340-264-0050(4) (a) (b) (c), OFC 307.1.1
Unlawful Fire
Any open burning not conducted in compliance with CFD1 Open Burning polices permits or directions is an unlawful fire. Outdoor fires that are deemed a hazard to public safety, fires outside of the burn season without a special permit, and fires conducted before and after the daily established burn times are examples of unlawful fires. Unlawful fires are subject to extinguishment and cost recovery fee invoicing. Source: ORS 478.960, ORS 478.965, OFC 307.1.1, CFD1 Fee Ordinance
Yard Debris
Yard debris is organic material remaining on the property of origin. Examples include dried wood, needles or leaf materials from trees, shrubs, or plants. Source: OAR 340-264-0300, CFD1