Tri City Rural Fire Protection District 4

05/08/2026

05/06/2026

05/05/2026

DFPA SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENT
USE CAUTION WHEN BURNING YARD DEBRIS

Sunny days may be perfect for yard work, but they can also create conditions that allow fire to spread quickly. With warmer temperatures in the forecast, it is especially important to take all precautions before burning.

If you plan to burn yard debris, make safety your top priority. Over the past decade, escaped debris burns have accounted for the largest number of fires outside fire season in the Douglas District, making them a leading cause of preventable wildfires.

Please note: DFPA is no longer issuing permits for industrial logging slash burning this spring. The permitting process will reopen after the 2026 fire season, when conditions allow. If you burned piles during the winter or spring, take time to check them carefully and ensure all residual heat is fully extinguished to prevent reignition as temperatures increase.

Before burning yard debris, check weather conditions. Avoid burning during warm, dry, or windy weather, and follow these essential safety tips:

• Check Local Regulations
o Contact your local fire department to confirm burning is allowed in your area, as restrictions can vary by district.
• Consider Safer Alternatives
o Composting, chipping, or recycling yard debris are effective options.
o If burning is necessary, cover your pile with plastic and wait for cooler, calmer conditions.
• Burn Only Natural Debris
o Materials such as rubber, plastics, garbage, petroleum products, and treated wood are prohibited and hazardous.
• Keep Piles Small and Manageable
o Smaller piles burn more quickly and are easier to control.
• Prepare Your Burn Site
o Clear a trail around the pile, down to mineral soil, before ignition.
• Have Tools Ready
o Keep a shovel and a charged garden hose on-site and never leave a fire unattended.
o Stay until it is completely out.
• Act Quickly If It Escapes
o Call 911 immediately if your burn gets out of control.

Even after flames are gone, danger can remain. Debris piles can smolder for days and reignite under warm or windy conditions. Always check previous burn sites to ensure they are fully extinguished.
Remember: if your fire escapes, you are responsible for suppression costs and any damage caused. These costs can range from hundreds to millions of dollars.

Take the extra time to burn safely—or wait for better conditions.

Only You Can Prevent Wildfires.
Together, we can Keep Oregon Green.

05/02/2026

To the public of Tri City,
I am pleased to announce that the Tri City Rural Fire Protection District #4 has been awarded the Seasonal Staffing grant from Oregon State Fire Marshall's. This is a grant that will help fund fire personnel to be on shift during certain hours of the day throughout fire season. This grant can help ensure that there will be a quick response to calls when Personnel are on shift that can make the difference of a small event becoming a big event. Also this grant just doesn't pertain to wildland fires but it also allows us to handle all calls that we are dispatched to while personnel are on shift helping to better serve our community.
We would like to take the time to thank the Oregon State Fire Marshall's for making this grant possible to provide the best service to our community that we can throughout the 2026 fire season.
Thank you!

04/26/2026

To the Public of Tri City:
Through out the Month of May and possibly into June the Tri City Rural Fire Protection District #4 will be out in the community conducting hydrant flowing and inspections. We will be as quick and courteous to the public as possible while we are talking care of this task. We thank you.

10/10/2025

DFPA NEWS RELEASE
2025 FIRE SEASON ENDS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2025

The Douglas Forest Protective Association (DFPA) will officially end the 2025 fire season today, Friday, October 10, 2025, at 9:01 a.m., for lands under their protection and management. The end of fire season is a result of recent wetting rains and an overall cooling trend that has returned to the area.

With the end of the fire season, the public and industrial fire restrictions implemented through DFPA will no longer be in effect.

A list of fire restrictions and closures in place through private industrial landowners can be found online at https://ofic.com/private-forestland-closures/.

Backyard debris burning outside of incorporated cities will be allowed without a burn permit from DFPA; however, residents should contact their local fire department before conducting any debris burning, as fire restrictions may vary between local fire districts. The only type of burning that requires a permit from DFPA outside of fire season is for the burning of logging slash. Any commercial tree harvest that requires excess debris to be burned constitutes logging slash and, therefore, requires a burn permit. Permits to burn logging slash can be obtained by calling DFPA at 541-672-6507.

Despite the fire season ending, fire officials advise residents to exercise caution when burning yard debris or using fire in the woods. Several days of sunshine and dry weather during the fall months can create a fire risk even if a week or more of cool, wet conditions precede them.

When burning yard debris, ensure you have an adequate fire trail around the pile before ignition begins, and have fire tools and a water supply at the burn site. Debris piles should never be left unattended and should be fully extinguished before leaving the area. If a debris burn escapes containment, the party responsible may be held financially responsible for the resulting fire suppression costs and associated damages.

Those recreating in wildland areas are reminded that private industrial landowners and neighboring public land management agencies may still have fire restrictions or closures in place on the lands they own or manage. Recreationists should check with the appropriate landowner or public land management agency for the location they plan to recreate before heading to the woods.
The Douglas Forest Protective Association would like to thank the community for its cooperation and support during the 2025 fire season.