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Burning & smoke management

Prescribed forest burning

Prescribed forest burning is a valuable tool for maintaining a healthy forest and reducing risks to public safety. Prescribed forest burning reduces forest fuels. By reintroducing periodic fire to fire-adapted landscapes, it has also been shown to reduce the potential for high-intensity wildfires and the huge volume of smoke produced by them. Fire suppression is safer, more effective and costs less in areas with a recent history of controlled burning. Prescribed forest burning also helps prepare logged sites for replanting, recycling nutrients back into the soil and reducing pests and disease. These planned fires are lit when fire danger is low and weather conditions are favorable for protecting smoke sensitive receptor area (SSRAs) communities from smoke.

​The goal of community response plans are to promote communication between the entities that conduct prescribed fire, the local public health authority, vulnerable populations, and the general public.

A community response plan (OAR 629-048-0180) should be tailored to the unique needs of the community that it serves. At a minimum, the plan must include:

  1. A description of populations in a Smoke Sensitive Receptor Area (SSRA) community that are vulnerable to the health effects of short-term smoke;
  2. Adequate means by which the public, especially vulnerable populations in the SSRA community, will be notified in a clear and reliable way of anticipated smoke impacts in a timely manner;
  3. Adequate options for protecting the health of vulnerable populations (or helping such populations to protect themselves) from short-term exposure to smoke; and
  4. A plan and program for communications between the entities that conduct prescribed fire, the local public health authority, and the community’s public and vulnerable populations who may be impacted by smoke.

CRP development to​olkit​

  • ​​Coming soon

Current Commun​​​ity Response Plans

Smoke Sensitive Recept​​or Areas (SSRAs)

Map of Smoke Sensitive Recepto​​r Areas

​​​​​​​​Complaints shall be investigated, appropriately treated, recorded, and the complainant informed of the investigation results in a timely (consistent with other workload), courteous, and professional manner. Data gathered through complaint investigation shall be reported periodically in accordance with OAR 629-048-0450. 

A complaint is any report of smoke alleged to be from forestry activity that may adversely impact public health or protected visibility. Any grievance, tip, information, or inquiry which (1) calls into question forest prescribed burning practices such that an onsite investigation is deemed necessary, or (2) appears likely to be a recurring problem such that documentation seems necessary should be treated as a complaint.​

​Complaint form instructions:

  • ​Note:​ Th​e form does not work from iOS platforms (iPhones/iPads). If using Mac OS, download the form with Adobe Acrobat Reader.​
  • Access the form using the button below, down​​load to your computer, and complete the top portion.
  • Once completed, use the submit button provided on the form or email the completed form to stacy.mccarter@odf.oregon.gov​, or print and return to: 
    Oregon Department of Forestry
    Stacy McCarter
    2600 State Street
    Salem, OR 97310

Slash pile smoke complaint​ form​

​For smoke complaints other than slash or timber burning, visit Oregon Department of Environmental Quality​.​

Slash burning

What is slash burning? Slash burning is forest debris or woody vegetation that is related to the management of forestland used for growing and harvesting timber. This may include piled materials in multiple piles, broadcast burns, or underburns. Slash burning can burn continuously for days and stumps may smolder overnight.

Slash is considered woody and organic debris from timber harvested that will then be sold. Otherwise, it falls under backyard debris or demolition waste which are both regulated by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and require a burn permit. Check with your local fire department or DEQ office.

Need to burn forestry slash?

Before you burn: Just make sure you are doing it safely and legally.

Slash burning on forestland within an ODF protection district requires a burn permit during fire season; although, some districts require permits year-round. Always check with your local ODF district or forest protective association before you burn!

For backyard debris burning (like yard waste or leaves/branches/clippings), contact your local fire department; as many areas prohibit all burning when fire danger is high to protect communities from escaped debris burns.

Map of smoke-regulated areas

map of SSRA


Resources

Contact

Stacy McCarter
Mitigation Program Manager
503-701-0236
Email