Wood backyard fires are treated as either recreational fires or open burning. Both must stay 50 feet from structures, be attended, and are suspended during summer fire season and DEQ burn bans. Yard-debris burning is limited to the two burn seasons on approved days.
There is no single 'backyard fire' license — rules depend on purpose. A small recreational or cooking fire must be contained, supervised, kept 50 feet from combustibles, and have water or an extinguisher ready. Burning yard debris (a larger backyard fire) is legal only March 1–June 15 and October 1–December 15, in piles no larger than 10'x10'x10', two at a time, outside the DEQ burn-ban boundary. During regulated fire season and DEQ burn bans all open wood burning stops. Manufactured gas fire features are the safest year-round option. Always call the Clackamas Fire daily burn line (503.742.2945).
Fire officials may order any unsafe fire extinguished; escaped fires carry cost-recovery liability and DEQ penalties for out-of-season or out-of-boundary burning.
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See how Clackamas County's backyard fires rules stack up against other locations.
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