10/16/2026
Yesterday we participated in a prescribed burn on a three acre plot of land on NW Half Mile Lane. This was partnered with the North Valley Prescribed Burn Association. They are the Prescribed Burn Association (PBA) for the North Willamette Valley to include areas in Washington, Multnomah, Yamhill, Clackamas and Marion Counties. PBA's are groups of citizens or organizations that work to conduct prescribed burns of privately owned land.
These prescribed burns are different that field burning that occurs in the Mid Willamette Valley or agricultural burning that you typically see around here. The goal with prescribed burning is to remove flashy or ladder fuels to help slow or stop future wild fires, allow native plant/tree species to thrive in the ecosystem and the burning also provides nutrients for future plant growth.
Yesterdays operation also served as a training opportunity for local firefighters to work with drip torches and the technique of "walking" fire along an area while protecting a section of property. We were joined by firefighters from Cornelius Fire Department - Oregon, Banks Fire District 13 and Oregon Department of Forestry South Fork Camp. We also were assisted by a Captain from Woodburn Fire District who has a vast experience with conducting prescribed burn operations and works directly with three PDA's in Oregon.
We thank the land owner and the North Valley PBA as well as local fire personnel that allowed this operation to be a successful start to Prescribed Burning in Washington County.
For more information on Prescribed Burning Associations in Oregon, visit the Oregon State University Website here: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/fire-program/prescribed-burn-associations