The Umatilla County Fire District #1 (UCFD1) is a separate entity from the City of Hermiston, that provides fire, rescue, and emergency medical services for the citizens of the district.
Burn Information
Current Burn Information is updated daily by Umatilla County and can be accessed on their website or by calling: 541-966-3651 or 541-278-6397.
Jim Critchley Chief / Fire Marshal (541) 276-1442
Burn Days
Seasonal open burning is allowed on “Green Days” during the period October 1 through May 31, weather permitting. Open burning, excluding burn barrels in the Fire Districts, is prohibited from June 1 through September 30.
Check the Daily Burn Forecast or call 541-966-0327 after 8:30am.
Open burning is any burning outdoors including burn barrels, backyard burning, and piles of yard debris that is generated from that property. Burning stumps, field burns, burning trash, commercial waste, demolition waste, construction debris, and bonfires require special permits available from the Pendleton Fire Department at no charge.
It is against the law to construct any open burning that:
- Unreasonably interferes with enjoyment of life or property.
- Creates a public nuisance.
- Is a hazard to public safety.
Summary of Open Burning Regulations (PDF)
Burning Safety Rules
- Burn piles are limited to three feet (3’) in diameter and must be 25’ from structures, shrubs, dry grass, etc.
- Fire must be constantly attended by a responsible person 16 years old or older.
- Must have water available to the fire at all times. Typically a garden hose attached to a water supply that will reach the burn pile.
- All fires must be DEAD OUT by dark.
Prohibited Materials
DEQ regulations prohibit open burning of the following materials at any time, anywhere in Oregon.
- Rubber Products
- Plastic
- Wet Garbage
- Petroleum and Petroleum Treated Products
- Industrial Waste
- Tires
- Wire Insulation
- Automotive Parts
- Animal Remains
- Wet Yard Debris
- ANY materials which emit dense black smoke or noxious odors.
Regardless of the circumstances, you are responsible for your fire and any damage caused by your fire. Please be courteous to your neighbors and respect their rights and be aware of your smoke.
Permit Types
Domestic Waste
Burn Permits are not required for domestic waste. Domestic waste includes yard debris such as leaves, limbs, brush or other natural material actually generated around a dwelling of four or fewer family living units. The combustible waste must be burned on the property on which it was generated. Household garbage, plastic, diapers, rubber products, and recyclable materials are not allowed to be burned.
Commercial, Construction, or Demolition Waste
Any combustible waste that is not generated on residential property (four-plex or less) or is transported to another site is considered commercial waste and requires a permit from Pendleton Fire & Ambulance and Oregon DEQ 541-278-4626. Construction and demolition waste also requires a permit from Pendleton Fire & Ambulance and Oregon DEQ.
- Commercial Burn Permit Application (PDF)
- Blasting Permit (PDF)
Special Events
Fires for special events are allowed on a case-by-case basis. This includes bon fires and fires after dark. Contact the Pendleton Fire at or call 541-276-1442 for more information.
Special Event Burn Permit (PDF)
Burn Barrels
Burn barrels are prohibited inside the city limits of Pendleton. Burn barrels are allowed in the fire districts and can be used year-round but can only be used on “Green Days”. When the Pendleton burn season is closed please refer to the Umatilla County Burn Line at 541-278-6397 (During the open burning season use the City Burn Line at 541-966-0327) or visit Umatilla County Burn Info.
Defensible Space for Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Fires
We would like to remind you to take care of your property and protect it from embers during the dry season..
Move woodpiles and debris away from your hose
Clean gutters. and roofs
Clean and Protect under your decks.
For more information, the Oregon State Fire Marshal has shared additional resources. You can find them below.
Additional Resources
- Round-Up Vendor's Guide
- Smoke Alarms And You
- ISO Appointment Letter
You MUST come into the Weston Fire Station
and sign your permit before burning.
Excerpts from Umatilla County Code of Ordinance, Chapter 95
§ 95.01 PURPOSE
The intent of this
ordinance is to protect open burning as an effective, efficient, and appropriate natural resource management tool; as well as to improve air quality over Umatilla County by considering 1) technical aspects of burning, 2) materials being burned, 3) potential particulate load generated by open fires, and 4) cost effectiveness and efficiency of program administration and enforcement. In addition, the ordinance is intended to enhance air quality by increasing public awareness of the need to reduce
smoke from all sources. Through education and information, all open burning in the county will be encouraged to be done only on designated BURN days and in a manner which both minimizes smoke generation and/or insures adequate smoke dispersal to minimize adverse effects of smoke.
§ 95.06 PROHIBITED OPEN BURNING
1. Permit Holders shall not ignite a fire if the wind speed exceeds 20 miles per hour and are discouraged from igniting
fires when wind speeds exceed 15 miles per hour. Each burner shall be responsible for monitoring wind speed at the site of the fire with the understanding that designation as a BURN day is no guarantee of safe conditions for burning.
2. Tree stumps may not be open burned unless they have first been removed from the ground and let dry, so they will burn without creating a dense smoke and without smoldering for an extended period of time.
3. No materials which are on the DEQ list of
materials prohibited from open burning may be burned in Umatilla County. (See Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) 340-264-0060(3).)
§ 95.07 PRE-IGNITION NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Prior to igniting an open burn, Permit Holders shall notify Umatilla County of the Open Burning and also provide any other information requested by the County. In addition, Permit Holders will need to notify the appropriate fire protection agencies (such as a
Fire District, County Dispatch, Tribal Fire Department, U.S. Forest Service, Oregon Department of Forestry, or other state or federal agencies) of the intent to burn.
§ 95.08 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
1. All open burning shall be done in a manner which. Does not unreasonably interfere with the enjoyment of life or property;. Does not create an unreasonable public or private nuisance; and Does not pose an unreasonable hazard to public
safety.
2. Smoke that is merely unsightly in the judgment of an individual shall not necessarily be considered a public nuisance.
3. Propane flaming of grass seed and cereal grain residue is allowed only after as much residue as practicable has been removed from the field, or if the field has been recently open burned. Propane flaming is allowed only on designated BURN
days. This provision does not apply to the use of hand-held propane devices used for the purpose of igniting
fires.
4. Open burning shall be conducted in a manner that reasonably minimizes the likelihood the smoke emitted will create unsafe driving conditions on nearby roads and highways.
5. Fire safety shall be the responsibility of each burner. Nothing in this ordinance shall relieve any permit holder or person who has started or authorized a fire, whether permitted or not, from responsibility or liability for damage or injury.
6. Reasonable efforts shall be taken to extinguish and/or
minimize smoke from open burning of hay stacks, brush, and other materials that have been ignited, whether accidentally, by arson, or by natural events such as lightning.