News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
We support the City of Sisters' goal of eliminating yard debris burning inside the city limits. As Sisters grows more dense and more populous, outdoor burning becomes a safety hazard and impinges on neighbors' quality of life.
But an outright ban may not be the best way to go. The Sisters-Camp Sherman fire district doesn't want anything to do with enforcing such a ban, and for good reason. It would impose extra costs and take away from fire personnel's ability to respond to emergency calls, which keep increasing as the region grows.
The city itself shouldn't add to its own burden of enforcement; planners and public works officials have enough to do without the added duty of acting as fire cops.
The City of Sisters should act now to enhance its yard debris pickup program. If the city can pick up yard debris on a weekly basis, it will eliminate the need for most folks to burn. After all, it's simpler to just place the pine needles and duff in a container and let someone haul it away than it is to spend your Saturday minding a burn pile or barrel.
Over time, most people will take advantage of an efficient yard debris pickup program, and burning will dwindle. The fire department will enforce against burning that is truly unsafe, and the air will be cleaner (except during times when the Forest Service conducts its own burning).
We'll never eliminate smoke in Sisters. But by using the carrot of education and efficient pickup instead of the stick of a ban, the city can go a long way toward clearing the air - without building any smoldering fires of resentment.
Jim Cornelius, News Editor
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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