vernonia rural fire protection district
may18
2017
15
Vernonia Rural Fire Protection District
Get Prepared for Fire Season
It’s that time of year again.
The rains are getting ready to stop, the
temperatures are rising, and we’re even
enjoying the nice weather a bit and all
that it brings to Vernonia.
While you’re enjoying the
weather and starting your gardening
season, stop and take a look at your
property. Is it ready for the fire season
that is just around the corner?
This is the time of year when
we all need to take the necessary
precautions to protect our properties
from the fire dangers that are hidden
behind all of the natural beauty.
Some of the things that you
need to focus on are getting your
gutters cleaned out, yard debris
cleaned up, bushes, trees, and shrubs
trimmed, and cleaning up anything
else on your property that can be
easily ignited by a fire source. These
are the hidden dangers that a wandering
ember is longing to find.
A burning ember can travel up
to one mile under the right conditions.
It’s just looking for fuel to land on. Now,
I’m not suggesting that a burning ember
has a mind of its own, but the only thing
keeping it from burning out is fuel!
By “fuel,” I’m talking about
any dry material, natural or manmade,
flammable liquids, and tall dried out
grass and leaves that can easily be
ignited by a wandering ember.
The Oregon Department of
Forestry and the Oregon Office of State
Fire Marshal are both encouraging home
owners and renters to take the time
to clean up your property to remove
the abundant fuel sources that are
surrounding your home.
Those gutters that have been
packed full of leaves and fir needles all
winter long, will dry out and become
an excellent fuel source for a burning
ember. That green moss on your roof
will also dry out and become another
excellent fuel source.
If you have un-mowed fields
of grass around your property, this will
spread a burning fire faster than you can
run when there is a little wind behind
those flames. Try to get as much of it
mowed as you can before things dry out
and turn brown during the months that
are just ahead of us.
If you have a valid burn permit,
issued by VRFPD, take advantage of this
period of time when burning of yard and
garden trimmings are allowed.
If you need a burn permit, contact
Karin Goodman in the office by calling
(503)-429-8252. Karin will explain how
you can obtain a burn permit.
Here are a few “Burn Pile Tips”
to help wildfire prevention.
Consider chipping or recycling
your yard debris. If burning is the
only option, it is less likely to escape
Calls responded to April 1-30
Fire
Emergency Medical Service
Hazardous Condition
Service Call
Good Intent
Severe Weather & Natural Disaster
Special Incident
No Emergency Found
False Alarm
Total
0
30
2
10
1
1
0
0
0
44
CAN YOU FILL
THESE BOOTS?
VOLUNTEERS
WANTED
Call Dean Smith
for more information
on free training
(503)429-8252
control by following some simple
safety tips.
• Call before you burn
– Those of you who live in the
Vernonia Rural Fire Protection
District can call (503) 429-8252
BEFORE YOU BURN to find
out if burning is allowed on any
given day. After hours, you will
receive a recorded message.
Burning regulations are not
the same in all areas and can
vary with the weather and
fuel conditions. Check with
your local Oregon Department of
Forestry district, your fire protection
association, or local air authority
to learn if there are any current
burning restrictions or regulations,
and whether a permit is required.
Note: Permits are required in VRFPD
jurisdiction.
• Know the weather forecast -
Never burn on dry or windy days.
• Clear a 10-foot radius around
your burn pile - Make sure there are no
tree branches or power lines above.
• Keep your burn pile small
- Small piles, 4x4 feet in dimension,
are recommended. Add debris in
small amounts as existing material is
consumed.
• Always have water and fire
tools on site - When burning, have a
charged water hose, bucket of water, a
shovel, and dirt nearby to extinguish the
fire. Drown the pile with water, stir the
coals, and drown again, repeating until
the fire is DEAD out.
• Stay with the fire until it is
completely out. Monitoring a debris
burn continually from start to finish until
dead out is required by state law. Go
back and recheck old burn piles, as they
can retain heat for several weeks and
rekindle when the weather warms and
winds blow.
• Never use gasoline or other
accelerants to start or increase your
open fire. Every year approximately 60
percent of all burns treated at the Oregon
Burn Center are the result of backyard
debris burning.
• Burn ONLY yard debris - State
regulations prohibit the open burning of
any material that creates dense smoke
or noxious odors. Pick up your Burn
Permit at the station along with a list of
rules and regulations at 555 E. Bridge St.
Vernonia, OR 97064. Cost: $5.00
Escaped debris burns are the
leading human-caused fire issue in Or-
egon, particularly in the spring and fall.
For more tips on wildfire prevention,
visit the Keep Oregon Green, www.
keeporegongreen.org/. Tips provided by
the Oregon Department of Forestry.