FIRE DEPARTMENTS DECLARE ALL OUTDOOR BURNING CLOSED DUE TO FIRE DANGER

Effective immediately, Forest Grove Fire & Rescue and the Cornelius Fire Department will be taking a rare, but proactive step to help prevent a fire tragedy in our community by instituting a total ban on all outdoor burning until further notice.  This total ban goes above and beyond the already in place County wide ban on open agricultural and yard debris burning,
and also closes all outdoor campfires and recreational fires within our response area. Cooking fires in an approved and listed open flame cooking device such as a propane or charcoal fired barbecue grill are exempt from this total burn ban and are still allowed at this time.
 

Due to the long term effects of little to no rain combined with the hot, dry, and windy weather, Fire Officials urge the community to be extra fire safe during these final few weeks until the steady rains arrive again and the burn ban is lifted.  Please do not use machinery or equipment near tall grass or brush, and do not weld or perform other hot work outdoors at this time. It’s also recommended that if you do any work outdoors that you have a properly maintained and easily accessible fire extinguisher with your machinery, vehicles, and equipment. If you must work outdoors we strongly urge that you perform your work during the morning hours when the humidity is highest. For those in the forestry industry you are required to follow the guidelines set forth by the Oregon Department of Forestry for Industrial Fire Precautions at this time, please contact your local Oregon Department of Forestry Office for further details.
 
For questions please contact your local Fire Department Administration Office. Forest Grove Fire & Rescue can be reached at 503-992-3240, and the Cornelius Fire Department at 503-357-3840.