The Marion County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind all citizens as we approach the 4th of July holiday to use extra caution this year while celebrating. The extreme heat and high temperatures in our area have prompted a burn ban throughout Marion County. Rural areas and forests are especially susceptible to catching fire especially during wildfire season. Firework sales in Oregon are underway, please be mindful of the increased fire danger throughout the county when deciding how to celebrate responsibly. If you are planning on using fireworks this year please remember to keep it legal and keep it safe.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office will have increased patrols on the roadways throughout the holiday weekend. We would like to remind citizens of the closures throughout the Santiam Canyon remain in effect due to wildfire recovery efforts. These include, North Fork Park, Salmon Falls Park, Bear Creek Park and Campground, and the corridor will be closed to bicyclists and non-resident pedestrians.
Every year, fires are started from the use of Illegal fireworks and even improper use of legal fireworks. This often is associated with property damage and bodily injury.
Illegal fireworks have become increasingly common in Marion County. These types of fireworks include anything that flies into the air, explodes, or behaves in an uncontrollable or unpredictable manner. Some examples include; Bottle Rockets, Mortars, Roman Candles, Aerial Shells, Missiles, and Firecrackers to name a few. These types of fireworks account for nearly 99% of calls for service our office receives every year as we approach the 4th of July. It is no surprise these fireworks can cause injury, property damage, and easily start fires in dry brush.
Using illegal fireworks is not only dangerous but can come with a heavy penalty. Under Oregon law, Officials may seize fireworks and you may be charged with a class B misdemeanor, which could result in a fine of up to $2,500 per violation and a civil penalty of up to $500.
You can report the use of Illegal Fireworks by calling the Non-Emergency line at 503-588-5032. Please do not call 911 unless you have an emergency. For more information about fireworks laws in Oregon please visit: https://www.oregon.gov/osp/programs/sfm/Pages/Fireworks.aspx
The Marion County Fire District has issued the following statement regarding the active Burn Ban:
Beginning Friday, June 25th, 2021 at 7:00 a.m., all fire agencies within Marion County will enact a High-Fire Danger Burn Ban, based on a recommendation by the Marion County Fire Defense Board. Marion County fire agencies include: Aumsville Fire District, Aurora Fire District, Drakes Crossing Fire District, Gates Fire District, Hubbard Fire District, Idanha Detroit Fire District, Jefferson Fire District, Keizer Fire District, Lyons Fire District, Marion County Fire District #1, Mill City Fire District, Monitor Fire District, Mount Angel Fire District, Silverton Fire District, St. Paul Fire District, Salem Fire Department, Stayton Fire District, Sublimity Fire District, Turner Fire District, & Woodburn Fire District.
Burning restrictions are authorized under Oregon Revised Statute 478.960 and Oregon Fire Code 307.
The burn ban prohibits all the following:
Backyard or open burning (branches, yard debris, etc.).
Agricultural burning (agricultural wastes, crops, field burning, etc.).
Any other land clearing, slash, stump, waste, debris or controlled burning.
The burn ban does not prohibit:
Small scale outdoor cooking, warming, or recreational fires. These include portable or permanent fire pits, fire tables, and campfires, with a maximum fuel area of three feet in diameter and two feet in height in a safe location away from combustibles or vegetation and are fully extinguished after use.
Barbeque grills, smokers and similar cooking appliances with clean, dry firewood, briquettes, wood chips, pellets, propane, natural gas, or similar fuels.
There may be more restrictive fire safety rules on and within a 1/8 mile of Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF)-protected land, which exists throughout much of rural Marion County. ODF restrictions may include prohibitions on campfires, smoking, target shooting, powered equipment, motorized vehicles, and other public/private landowner and industrial fire restrictions. More details about ODF fire restrictions are available at https://gisapps.odf.oregon.gov/firerestrictions/PFR.html.
Outdoor fires in violation of this burn ban may be immediately extinguished. If a fire agency responds to a fire that has been started in willful violation of this burn ban, the person responsible may be liable for all costs incurred, as well as legal fees per ORS 478.965.
Fire Chiefs in Marion County encourage the public to use extreme caution with activities that could start a fire. It is everyone’s responsibility to prevent and be prepared for wildfires.