NEWBERG, Ore. — Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue enacted a burn ban June 23 to reduce the risk of residential and wildfires in the Yamhill Valley ahead of the Independence Day holiday.
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The ban restricts several open-burning activities, including backyard burning of branches or yard debris and agricultural burning of waste, crops, and fields. Land clearing burns are also prohibited.
While the name may sound all-encompassing, some activities are still allowed. Small outdoor cooking, warming, or recreational fires are permitted if they are contained in a portable or permanent fire pit no larger than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet high. Fire pits must be placed safely away from vegetation and combustible materials.
Barbecue grills, smokers, and similar outdoor cooking appliances are also allowed.
Fireworks remain legal during a burn ban, though Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue urges residents to take extra care to prevent accidental fires. Oregon law prohibits fireworks that fly, explode, or travel more than 6 feet on the ground. This includes bottle rockets, roman candles, firecrackers, and M-80s. Fireworks also can not fly more than 12 inches in the air without a permit.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal promotes the “four Bs” of safe firework usage:
- Be prepared: Have a bucket of water or hose nearby.
- Be safe: Keep children and pets at a safe distance. Never light fireworks near dry vegetation.
- Be responsible: Don’t relight “duds.” After lighting a firework, soak them in water before disposing.
- Be aware: Only use legal fireworks and only where they are allowed.
To ensure compliance, officials recommend purchasing fireworks only from licensed Oregon stands.
“Just because some fireworks are legal doesn’t mean they’re 100 percent safe,” TVF&R said in a 2024 Independence Day safety release. “This includes sparklers. They can reach temperatures of 1,200 degrees — wood burns at 575 degrees, and glass melts at 900 degrees, according to the National Fire Protection Association.”
The burn ban signals an elevated fire risk due to dry, hot, and windy weather conditions. Burn bans are typically in place from early summer through early autumn.
TVF&R’s jurisdiction includes Newberg and parts of Washington, Multnomah, and Clackamas counties.
To report illegal burning during a burn ban, call the non-emergency line at 503-629-0111 or dial 911 in an emergency.
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