Materials that are NOT allowed to be burned

The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) rules for materials burned in your woodstove or Fireplace.

  

468A.467 Prohibition on burning certain materials in solid fuel burning devices. A person may not cause or allow any of the following materials to be burned in a solid fuel burning device, a masonry heater, a pellet stove, a trash burner or any device described in ORS 468A.485

 

(4)(b):

      (1) Garbage;

      (2) Treated wood;

      (3) Plastic or plastic products;

      (4) Rubber or rubber products;

      (5) Animal carcasses;

      (6) Products that contain asphalt;

      (7) Waste petroleum products;

      (8) Paint;

      (9) Chemicals;

      (10) Paper or paper products, except for paper used to kindle a fire; or

      (11) Any other materials described in rules adopted by the commission. [2009 c.387 §6]

 

CHAPTER 406

KLAMATH COUNTY CLEAN AIR ORDINANCE

 

(6)    PROHIBITED MATERIALS - Any combustible material as defined by the State’s prohibited materials open burning rule which include wet garbage, plastic, wire insulation, automobile parts, asphalt, petroleum product, petroleum treated material, rubber products, animal remains, or animal or vegetable matter resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking, or service of food that normally results in dense or noxious smoke when burned. Also included are coal and any open burned materials that cause a public or private nuisance or a hazard to public safety.

 

406.400 Penalties. 

Failure to comply with the provisions of this Chapter shall be subject to fines of up to $720.00 for a one-time occurrence, and fines of not more than $1,000.00 for a continuing or repeated offense. 

This provision will be enforced in accordance with Chapter 800, Uniform Civil Violation Procedure of the Klamath County Code.

Fall Open Burning Window Ends

The Klamath County Air Quality 2013 Fall Open Burning Windows ends at 5:00pm Sunday November 3, 2013.

 

Ø  The 2013 Fall Open Burning Window within the Klamath County Air Quality Zone ends at 5:00 pm Sunday, November 3, 2013.  After Sunday November 3, 2013, Open or Outdoor burning within the Air Quality Zone will be prohibited.

Ø  Residents will have additional opportunities to dispose of yard debris during the “Klamath County Fall Clean-up Day” on Saturday November 2, 2013.  On that day, brush, wood, leaves and mulch will be accepted at the county landfill (off Old Fort Road) and at the transfer stations for no fee.

Ø  Outside the Air Quality Zone the open or outdoor burning of domestic wastes, such as tree limbs, brush, leaves and needles, and Agricultural Burning directly related to the management and harvesting of crops or land used for livestock grazing is allowed only on “GREEN” days and by following the rules of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, the Oregon Department of Forestry and those of the local Fire District. Call 882-BURN for the color advisory prior to burning each day.

Ø  The burning of plastic, tar, petroleum products, treated or painted wood is prohibited.

Ø  The burning of construction, demolition, industrial or commercial wastes required a special permit from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.  The phone number for the DEQ in Bend is 541-388-6146.

Ø  A map showing the boundaries of the Air Quality Zone (AQZ) is available on the Klamath County Web site at:   http://www.co.klamath.or.us. 

No Open or Outdoor Burning Allowed Today

Toady, October 24, is a yellow day.




On yellow (and red) days, open and outdoor burning is prohibited everywhere in Klamath County.

If you live inside the air quality zone, you may only use your certified wood burning appliances or pellet stoves today.

Thank you for helping keep clean air available for all of us to breathe.

FALL 2013 OPEN BURNING WINDOW

As allowed by the Klamath County Air Quality Ordinance, the 2013 Fall Open Burning Window within the Klamath County Air Quality Zone will start on Saturday, October 19, 2013 at 8:00 a.m. and will end Sunday, November 3, 2013 at 5:00 pm.

 
Public Health requirements for clean air are:

1.                   The Air Quality Advisory must be “GREEN”. Find out the day’s advisory by calling 541-882-BURN (2876).

2.                   Only residential yard waste, such as tree limbs, brush, and leaves may be burned.

3.                   All burning must occur between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm and be fully extinguished by 5:00 pm.

4.                   No plastic, rubber, tar, petroleum products, treated or painted wood may be burned.

5.                   The use of Burn Barrels is prohibited.

6.                   The burning of commercial, construction, demolition or industrial waste is not included in this burn window.  Burning for these purposes requires a special permit from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality; contact Bonnie Hough at the DEQ office in Bend at (541) 633-2016.

7.                   Agricultural burning inside the Air Quality Zone is prohibited without a certificate of variance.

 

Fire District requirements for public safety are:

1.       The wind must be between 4 to 10 mph. For wind speed call 883-8127.

2.       There must be a pressurized water hose at the fire site at all times.

3.       A responsible adult must be present at the fire from the first flame until the fire is extinguished.

4.       The burn pile shall be no larger than 6 feet in diameter and 4 feet high.

5.       There must be a six-foot clear area surrounding the base of the pile and the pile must be at least 20 feet from combustible fences and buildings.

6.       The person conducting any burning is responsible for damage and the cost of an out of control burn as well as traffic problems and other hazards caused by the smoke.

 

The Open Burning Window may be cancelled at any time due to Air Quality or Fire Hazard conditions.

Check with your local Fire District or the City of Klamath Falls (inside the city limits) for additional restrictions.

 

Klamath County Fire District #1     885-2056                     Klamath County Fire District 4                            884-1670

Klamath County Environmental Health   883-1122         City of Klamath Falls Code Enforcement       883-5358

Oregon's Heat Smart Program

If you have an uncertified woodstove in your home or are looking to buy a home with an uncertified woodstove, it is important to remember that upon sale of the home the uncertified woodstove must be removed. This is Oregon law.   

It is unlawful to sell, offer to sell, or give away an uncertified stove.

Selling a house with a woodstove?

If you are selling or purchasing a home with a woodstove or fireplace insert you must ensure the woodstove is certified prior to sale of the home. If it is not certified, the stove must be removed, decommissioned and reported to DEQ.

Examples of Certification Labels

Either an Oregon DEQ or a U.S. EPA certification label on the stove means the stove is emissions certified. A UL safety certification label does not mean the stove is certified.

What devices are not required to be removed?

• Fireplaces
• Pellet stoves
• Antique stoves
• Cook stoves
• Masonry heaters
• Central wood-fired furnaces

Submitting notification to DEQ that you removed an uncertified stove?

Click on the appropriate link below to fill out the electronic form. You don't have to submit the actual receipt to DEQ - just keep it for your records and for reporting online. Once you've completed the online form, you'll receive immediate confirmation from DEQ and you're done!

If you cannot submit your information online, please contact the DEQ at (503) 229-5359 to obtain a paper reporting form.

Need Help disposing of the uncertified stove?

• Potential places to take your uncertified stove
• Example disposal receipt (you can use this form to document destruction of the stove – but you must still notify DEQ that you’ve removed the stove)

Additional Questions?

Questions that we hear most often regarding the requirements.

Check out this Fact Sheet: What You Should Know About Selling or Buying a Home with a Woodstove

YELLOW DAY

The AQ Advisory from noon Tuesday October 22, 2013 until Noon on Wednesday

October 23, 2013 is YELLOW.   No outdoor burning is allowed county wide.

 

 

The YELLOW advisory call means:

 

WITHIN THE AQ ZONE, ONLY CERTIFIED WOODSTOVEs, PELLET STOVES AND CERTIFIED FIREPLACE INSERTS MAY BE USED.

 

WITHIN THE AQ ZONE THE USE OF NON-CERTIFIED WOODSTOVEs OR FIREPLACES is PROHIBITED. 

 

OUTSIDE THE AQ ZONE, ALL WOODSTOVES, PELLET STOVES AND FIREPLACES MAY BE USED.

 

OUTDOOR OR OPEN BURNING IS PROHIBITED COUNTY WIDE

 

GREEN DAY

The 2013 Fall Open Burning Window within the Klamath County Air Quality Zone began Saturday, October 19, 2013 at 8:00 a.m. and will end Sunday at 5:00 pm

November 3, 2013. The Air Quality Advisory must be “GREEN”. Only residential yard waste, such as tree limbs, brush, and leaves may be burned.

 

THE AQ ADVISORY FROM NOON Monday October 21, 2013 TO NOON, Tuesday

October 22, 2013 IS GREEN.

 

WITHIN THE AQ ZONE, ALL WOODSTOVES, PELLET STOVES AND FIREPLACES MAY BE USED.

 

 

Ø  OUTDOOR OR OPEN BURNING IS ALLOWED COUNTYWIDE.

 

You are required to follow the Fire District’s instructions for outdoor burning:

 

1.            The burn pile shall be no larger than 6 feet in diameter and 4 feet high.

2.            There must be a six-foot clear area surrounding the base of the pile and the pile must be at least 20 feet from combustible fences and buildings.

3.            There must be a pressurized water hose at the fire site at all times.

2013-2014 Heating Season Rules

RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF FIREPLACES, WOODSTOVES, WOOD-BURNING FIREPLACE INSERTS AND PELLET STOVES WITHIN KLAMATH COUNTY FOR THE 2013-2014 HEATING SEASON.

 

Starting October 15, 2013 and ending March 15, 2014 the Klamath County Environmental Health Division will make a daily Air Quality Advisory for the use of fireplaces and woodstoves within the Air Quality Zone.  The advisory will give:

·                     Specific restrictions on the use of fireplaces, woodstoves, fireplace inserts and pellet stoves within the Air Quality Zone;

·                     Restrictions on outside or open burning countywide (Agricultural Included); and

·                     The EPA Air Quality Index for the past 24 hours.

 

The Advisory Phone Number is 882-BURN (2876)

FIREPLACE, WOODSTOVE AND WOOD-BURNING FIREPLACE INSERT RESTRICTIONS WITHIN THE AIR QUALITY ZONE

ADVISORY	ALLOWED TO USE	PROHIBITED
GREEN	Fireplaces, non–certified woodstoves, non-certified fireplace inserts, certified woodstoves, certified fireplace inserts, and pellet stoves.	Burning Trash
YELLOW	Certified woodstoves, certified fireplace inserts, pellet stoves.	Fireplaces, non–certified woodstoves, non-certified fireplace inserts, trash, and outdoor burning.
RED	Pellet stoves	Fireplaces, non–certified woodstoves, non-certified fireplace inserts, certified woodstoves, certified fireplace inserts,trash, and outdoor burning.
Open or outdoor burning is prohibited within the Air Quality Zone except during the Spring and Fall Open Burning Windows.

FIREPLACE, WOODSTOVE AND WOOD-BURNING FIREPLACE INSERT RESTRICTIONS OUTSIDE THE AIR QUALITY ZONE

ADVISORY	ALLOWED TO USE
GREEN	Fireplaces, non–certified woodstoves, or non-certified fireplace inserts, certified woodstoves or certified fireplace inserts, pellet stoves.
YELLOW
RED
Open or outdoor burning is allowed outside the Air Quality Zone except during Yellow or Red Advisories (PROHIBITED MATERIALS: Plastic, Rubber products, garbage and treated wood)

GREEN DAY

The 2013 Fall Open Burning Window within the Klamath County Air Quality Zone began Saturday, October 19, 2013 at 8:00 a.m. and will end Sunday at 5:00 pm

November 3, 2013. The Air Quality Advisory must be “GREEN”. Only residential yard waste, such as tree limbs, brush, and leaves may be burned.

 

THE AQ ADVISORY FROM NOON Monday October 21, 2013 TO NOON, Tuesday

October 22, 2013 IS GREEN.

 

WITHIN THE AQ ZONE, ALL WOODSTOVES, PELLET STOVES AND FIREPLACES MAY BE USED.

 

 

Ø  OUTDOOR OR OPEN BURNING IS ALLOWED COUNTYWIDE.

GREEN DAY

THE AQ ADVISORY FROM NOON Sunday October 20, 2013 TO NOON, Monday

October 21, 2013 IS GREEN.

 

The Green Advisory Call means:

 

WITHIN THE AQ ZONE, ALL WOODSTOVES, PELLET STOVES AND FIREPLACES MAY BE USED FROM NOON Sunday October 20th to NOON Monday October 21st.

 

Ø  OUTSIDE THE AQ ZONE, ALL WOODSTOVES, PELLET STOVES AND FIREPLACES MAY BE USED.

 

Ø  OUTDOOR OR OPEN BURNING IS ALLOWD INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE AIR QUALITY ZONE. DO NOT BURN PROHIBITED MATERIAL SUCH AS TRASH OR GARBAGE.

 

  

ONLY USE SEASONED DRY WOOD IN YOUR WOODSTOVES.

 

For a map of the Air Quality Zone and other information, CONSULT OUR WEBSITE AT then

http://www.klamathcounty.org/ click on Environmental Health.

 

If you have Air Quality questions or have a question about an exemption to use your woodstove on Red or Yellow Advisory Days CALL US @ 883-5118.

Complaints & Violations

Yesterday October 19, 2013, we received several complaints that residents in Keno were burning outside on a "Yellow" Air Quality Advisory Day.

Yellow and Red Air Quality Advisory Days are days where outdoor burning is prohibited county wide.

This includes all outdoor burning. The fine for violating the Air Quality Ordinance can result in a fine of up to $720.

Please call the Klamath County Environmental Health Department at 541-883-1122 with air quality questions or to report a violation. Please provide the address where violation occured, if possible.

Yellow Day

The air quality advisory from noon on October 16th to noon on October 17 is yellow. 

Only certified wood stoves, certified fireplaces, and pellet stoves may be used within the air quality zone. 

Non-certified device are not allowed. 

Outdoor burning is prohibited county wide. 

Learn Before You Burn

Save money and time. Get the most out of your wood stove by burning only dry, seasoned and keeping your fire small and hot.

Because seasoned wood is dry, it burns better -- it is more efficient and produces less smoke.

Seasoned Wood

Q: What is seasoned wood?
A: Properly seasoned wood is darker, has cracks on the end, and sounds hollow when smacked against another piece of wood. Season your wood by keeping it outdoors through the summer for at least 6 months before you burn it.

Q: How do I store my seasoned wood?
A: Keep your wood stacked neatly off the ground and make sure the top is covered.

For more tips, check out this site: Burn Wise.

Air Quality Season Opens with Yellow Day

Today marks the first day of the 2013-2014 air quality season.

The air quality advisory from noon on October 15th to noon on October 16 is yellow. 

Only certified wood stoves, certified fireplaces, and pellet stoves may be used within the air quality zone. 

Non-certified device are not allowed. 

Outdoor burning is prohibited county wide. 

Air Quality Season Begins Tomorrow

Begining tomorrow the public health department's Environmental Health staff will begin issuing daily air quality advisories, also known as the daily burn advisory.

Every day from October 15 to March 15 is assigned a color. The color of the day tells us what what  type of wood burning appliances can or cannot be used.

By following the daily air quality advisory, we can protect our heatlh and improve air quality in Klamath.

To be aware of the daily air quality advisory and burn restrictions, call 882-BURN (2876) or visit www.klamathair.info.

We can reach attainment, if we all do our share.

Air Quality Season Begins October 15

On average, each of us breathes over 3,000 gallons of air each day; we must all have air to live. However, breathing in polluted air can make us sick and is harmful to our local economy and environment. 

Polluted air in Klamath County has resulted in our designation as a “non-attainment area”. Yet, we have rallied together to begin in a communitywide effort to clean up the air. 

Every day, the public health department's Environmental Health distributes an air quality advisory. Our community follows the air quality advisory, burning only what is allowed for that day.  

Call 882-BURN (2876) or visit KlamathAir.Info for the daily advisory.

Air Quality Season Begins October 15th

Only 10 days until air quality season begins! 

Beginning October 15th, we will issue daily air quality advisories that states the burning restrictions for the day. 

If we fail to follow the air quality advisories, Klamath County will not reach attainment for and will void years of our community's hard work. 

If we do not reach attainment, federal funds may be restricted for transportation projects. Moreover, new or expanding industries will continue to be burdened by additional, stringent regulations. 

Non-attainment status hurts all of us; it is detrimental to our local economy, our health and our community. If we continue to work together and we can reach attainment. By reaching attainment we can secure federal funding and relax requirements on local industry.       

Call 541-882-BURN to hear the daily air quality advisory or visit KlamathAir.Info.

Fall 2013 Open Burning Window

The 2013 Fall Open Burning Window within the Klamath County Air Quality Zone will start on Friday, October 19, 2013 at 8:00 a.m. and will end Sunday, November 3, 2013 at 5:00 pm.

In order to burn during the open burning window, the following conditions must be met.

Public Health requirements for clean air are:

• The Air Quality Advisory must be “GREEN”. Find out the day’s advisory by calling 541-882-BURN(2876).
• Only residential yard waste, such as tree limbs, brush, and leaves may be burned.
• All burning must occur between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. The fire must be fully extinguished by 5:00 pm.
• No plastic, rubber, tar, petroleum products, treated or painted wood may be burned.
• The use of Burn Barrels is prohibited.
• The burning of commercial, construction, demolition or industrial waste is not included in this burn window. 
• Burning for these purposes requires a special permit from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality; contact Bonnie Hough at the DEQ office in Bend at (541) 633-2016.
• Agricultural burning inside the Air Quality Zone is prohibited without a certificate of variance.

Fire District requirements for public safety are:

• The wind must be between 4 to 10 mph. For wind speed call 883-8127.
• There must be a pressurized water hose at the fire site at all times.
• A responsible adult must be present at the fire from the first flame until the fire is extinguished.
• The burn pile shall be no larger than 6 feet in diameter and 4 feet high.
• There must be a six-foot clear area surrounding the base of the pile and the pile must be at least 20  feet fromcombustible fences and buildings.
• The person conducting any burning is responsible for damage and the cost of an out of control burn as well traffic problems and other hazards caused by the smoke. 

 

 

The Open Burning Window may be cancelled or extended at any time due to Air Quality, Fire Hazard, or weather conditions.

 

Thank you for burning safely and helping ensure we all have the opportunity to breathe clean air. 

Check with your local Fire District, Klamath County Environmental Health or the City of Klamath Falls (inside the city limits) for additional restrictions.

Klamath County Fire District #1     885-2056                    
Klamath County Fire District 4        884-1670

Klamath County Environmental Health   883-1122         
City of Klamath Falls Code Enforcement       883-5358