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Washington County Fire Agencies Lift Burn Ban
Effective 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, the High-Fire Danger Burn Ban will be officially lifted across Washington County. This includes areas served by Banks Fire District #13, Cornelius Fire Department, Forest Grove Fire Department, Gaston Rural Fire District, Hillsboro Fire & Rescue, and Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue. Initially implemented due to elevated fire risk, the ban was lifted after recent rainfall, and the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) ended the fire season.
Outdoor burning rules vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Please review outdoor burning rules for the Cornelius service area at https://www.corneliusor.gov/330/Burning-Air-Quality or call 503-259-1789 to ensure compliance with regulations.
Residents planning to conduct backyard burning or businesses conducting commercial agricultural burning need to follow all applicable Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), and Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) laws for burning. Fire departments or districts do not have the authority to enforce air-quality complaints regarding smoke. For more information about DEQ’s laws and guidelines for burning, visit https://www.oregon.gov/deq/aq/Pages/Burning.aspx.
The High-Fire Danger Burn Ban is managed by the Washington County Fire Defense Board, which represents fire agencies throughout the county. Burning restrictions are enforced under Oregon Revised Statute 478.960 and Oregon Fire Code 307.
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We prevent harm by protecting life property, and the environment.
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Values
Prevent, Protect, Serve.
- Where do I get an agriculture burn permit?
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Please Note: The Cornelius Fire Department no longer requires Agriculture burn permits.
Before burning, please visit the open burning website (updated daily) and please contact the Washington County Dispatch Center at 503-629-0111 when burning large amounts of debris.
Agricultural Open Burning means the open burning of agricultural waste generated by an agricultural operation that uses, or intends to use, land primarily for the purpose of obtaining a profit in money by raising, harvesting, and selling crops or raising and selling animals (including poultry) or the produce thereof. The agricultural operation must be large enough to have a profit motive as a reasonable objective, large enough not to be confused with a personal garden or hobby.
- What is the fire protection insurance class code for my property?
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The Insurance Services Office (ISO) class for residents within the City of Cornelius boundaries is a 3. Property owners living within the Cornelius Rural Fire Protection District (RFPD) who are within 5 miles of the station and within 1000 feet of a hydrant or approved water source have a fire protection class code of 3 as well. Those properties located beyond 5 miles of the station have a protection class code of 10. For further information, contact the Cornelius Fire Marshal at 503-357-3840.
- Where is the nearest fire hydrant to my property and how can I obtain hydrant flow data?
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This information can be obtained by calling the Cornelius Fire Department at 503-357-3840.
- Can I schedule a fire station tour?
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All Tours with the Fire Department need to be scheduled in advance.
Scheduling a tour in advance allows staff to better prepare a tour appropriate to the age level and size of the group.
To schedule a tour, contact us at 503-357-3840 during regular business hours or email us.