WashCo officials announce burn ban starting July 1 due to 'high-fire danger'

A burn ban will be in effect in Washington County beginning July 1 due to a "high-fire danger," officials announced.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A burn ban will be in effect in Washington County beginning July 1 due to a "high-fire danger," officials announced.

The ban will be enacted by all fire agencies within Washington County, including Banks Fire District #13, Cornelius Fire Department, Forest Grove Fire Department, Gaston Rural Fire District, Hillsboro Fire and Rescue and Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue.

The types of burns that will be banned include backyard or open burning (such as burning branches and yard debris), agricultural burning and "any other land clearing, slash, stump, waste, debris or controlled burning."

The ban won't impact smaller outdoor fires for recreation, warming or cooking or barbeque grilling, smoking, or using similar cooking appliances, including those that use propane, natural gas or wood pellets.

More restrictive fire bans, including prohibitions on campfires, may be applicable within an eighth-mile radius of Oregon Department of Forestry-protected lands in rural Washington County, officials said. More information about fire restriction locations can be found on ODF's website.

Washington County fire chiefs are urging the public to use "extreme caution" when it comes to activities that could start a fire and to work together to prevent wildfires. Outdoor fires in violation of the burn ban may be put out immediately by fire officials. Those who willfully violate the ban may be subject to legal fees and any costs incurred from the damage the fire caused.