Fire officials close burn season June 15

The Sisters and Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection Districts will close down the open burning season at dusk on Sunday, June 15.

Burning commercial waste, demolition material, domestic waste, industrial waste, land clearing debris and field burning will be prohibited.

This burn season was a relatively safe one, with both districts reporting fewer problems associated with open burning. Cloverdale fire chief Chuck Cable reported a decrease of 33 percent in open burning-related incidents, and Sisters chief Don Mouser said permit holders are doing a better job at being safe.

Mouser also noted that his department has stepped up enforcement procedures.

"We're doing a little more inspection on them (permitted burns)," Mouser said. "We're going out and looking at their burn pile" to make sure there is a water source, shovel and fire sentinel on hand.

"People are starting to listen to us and we're not going back the second time," Mouser said.