Keizer Fire District
Fire restrictions across Oregon are being lifted as one of the state’s driest summers to date comes to a close.
Keizer Fire District received over 600 calls for service in both July and August, which was the first time ever that the district had received over 600 calls in a month.
“It was definitely an unusually dry summer,” said Kris Boyer, battalion chief for the Marion County Fire District #1. “But the burn ban helped and people being careful kept the worst calls away.”
Boyer said that Marion County Fire District #1, which covers part of Keizer, lifted their burn ban Oct. 1. The district will continue to do a daily check and will provide announcements if there are areas where open burning is not allowed.
The Marion County Fire District #1 phone line provides daily updates on agricultural and backyard burning and at what times it is allowed.
While the Keizer Fire District currently has no fire restrictions or bans, large backyard burning of debris is not allowed — just like always.
The state Department of Forestry lifted a blanket ban on campfires in state parks and forests east of Interstate 5 beginning last Friday, Oct. 1.
“Recent rains and cooler temperatures have dampened fire danger in many parts of the state, and this decision allows local forest and park managers to make decisions about fire restrictions based on conditions in their area,” the Oregon Department of Forestry said in a press release.
Individual parks may still put restrictions in place based on conditions in their area.