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Open Burning Requirements

  • Call 541-205-4934 to let the Fire Department know you are burning…Leave your address and phone number if no answer.
  • Call Klamath County Air Quality 541-882-BURN (2876)
  • All open burning needs to be monitored at all times
  • A shovel, rake, garden hose with water, must be available at all times
  • Burning is allowed during day light hours only
  • No burning on days with an inversion layer and / or fog
  • No burning during high wind events
  • All open burning must be extinguished if the burn is unattended
  • Yard debris pile cannot exceed 3 feet in height and 6 feet in diameter
  • Keep burn piles 20 feet from trees or vegetation, with 50 feet of clearance from buildings.  Clear a minimum of 15 feet around the burn pile
  • Land clearing debris burning must obtain a special permit
  • Agricultural burns must obtain a special permit
  • Building / Demolition burns must obtain a special permit

Recreational Fire

Recreational fire or barbecues, you may only burn the following:

  • Clean, cut or split fire wood
  • Charcoal briquettes
  • No larger than 2 feet in diameter by 1 foot in height

Burn Barrel Requirements

  • Clear burnable material 10 feet from around the base of the base of the barrel
  • Locate barrel at least 15 feet away from buildings and/or combustible materials
  • Fire must be monitored at all times
  • A shovel, rake, garden hose with water, must be available at all times
  • Burning during daylight hours only
  • No burning during days with an inversion layer and/or fog
  • All burning must be extinguished if the burn is unattended
  • No burning during high wind events

Prohibited to Burn

It is illegal to burn the following materials in the State of Oregon:

  • Anything producing a noxious odor
  • Plastics
  • Man-made materials
  • Petroleum products
  • Rubber
  • Dead animals
  • Food service and industrial waste
  • Any wet material
  • Building / demolition material (Special permit required)

Permitted to Burn

  • Dry paper
  • Dry clean lumber
  • Dry vegetation (limbs, needles, brush, grass)
  • Timber slash
  • Agricultural debris
  • Field burning

Special Occasion Fires

All special occasion fire requests requires a burn permit from the Fire District. This includes:

  • Ceremonial
  • Religious
  • Special Events

Safety Tips for Open Debris Burning

In addition to the burning requirements, these tips will help you conduct safe burning.

  • Burn early in the day when it is cool, humidity is higher and winds are light. (Winds tend to increase in the afternoon / evening)
  • Keep piles small and controllable
  • Do not burn more that you are capable of controlling
  • After fire is out, fire must be monitored for potential rekindle
  • Cover / tarp piles to keep dry

Example of an approved open debris pile:

  • 20 feet from trees and vegetation greater than 3 feet in height
  • 50 feet from structures and combustible material
  • Clear ground of burnable material for 25 feet around the pile
  • 30 feet from property lines