Union County imposes countywide burn ban amid wildfire danger
Union County barred outdoor burning outside city limits, effective immediately, as officials warned dry fuels could turn one spark into a fast-moving fire.
Union County barred outdoor burning across its unincorporated areas Tuesday, stopping yard debris fires and most other flames outside incorporated cities after wildfire danger climbed sharply. The Union County Board of Commissioners voted during a morning meeting on July 15 to impose the countywide ban under Ordinance 2024-02 after a unanimous recommendation from the Union County Fire Defense Board.
The order took effect immediately and left only two narrow exceptions, regulated agricultural field burning and the use of gas or pellet barbecues.
Emergency Manager Nick Vora cited below-normal snowfall, a dry spring with very little precipitation and continuing hot, dry weather. He warned that vegetation and forest fuels were exceptionally dry, leaving the landscape vulnerable to a single spark that could turn into a wildfire, spread faster and burn more intensely than normal. Firefighting resources could be limited because multiple fires were already active elsewhere in the region.
The county had already moved into regulated-use fire season on June 3 after commissioners approved a Fire Defense Board request, with the season set to run through September 30 unless extended or modified. Burn season normally runs from June 15 through September 30. The county’s July 8 smoke-line update put regulated fire season in effect and barred open burning except by special permit for agricultural burning or exemption.
The county action came as state and federal land managers tightened restrictions across eastern Oregon. Governor Tina Kotek declared a drought emergency in Curry and Union counties on July 13 through Executive Order 26-12, directing state agencies to coordinate and prioritize assistance. Drought.gov put 100% of Union County’s population under drought, ranked June 2026 as the 20th driest June on record for the county, and placed year-to-date precipitation 19th driest over the past 132 years.
The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest put Phase A Public Use Restrictions and IFPL II in place on July 10 at 12:01 a.m., with limits on campfires, fireworks, open burning, smoking and off-road travel. Those restrictions will remain in place until Oct. 31 unless rescinded sooner. The Anthony Fire began July 8 and grew beyond 300 acres by July 9.
Union County had lifted a prior countywide burn ban in June after fire danger eased and initial attack resources improved.
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