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Westfir enacts outdoor burning moratorium after Hemlock hillside fire; resident urges brush abatement
Summary
After an April 18 backyard burn sparked a large hillside fire in the Hemlock neighborhood, Westfir adopted an outdoor burning moratorium effective April 21 and discussed brush abatement on the adjacent mill site after a resident questioned the State Fire Marshal's risk mapping.
Mayor Richard Watson opened the May 5 Westfir City Council meeting by announcing a citywide moratorium on outdoor burning that began April 21 following an April 18 backyard burn that resulted in a large hillside fire in the Hemlock neighborhood. The Oakridge Fire Department reported it kept the fire from spreading to homes while the U.S. Forest Service managed the blaze on National Forest land; Chief Scott Hollett told the Council there were "110 calls for EMS or fire in April," bringing year-to-date calls about 60 higher than at the same point last year.
Resident Timothy Bailey raised concerns about the wildfire-risk designation on state maps, saying Westfir was classified as "high risk" while nearby areas were listed as moderate risk. Bailey also urged mowing and brush abatement at the mill site adjacent to Hemlock, calling it a significant fire hazard given that some lots in town cannot meet setback or fuel-storage requirements. Mayor Watson said there "might be flexibility in the state regulations, depending on individual situations," and the Council discussed alternatives to backyard burning and local mitigation measures.
The Council did not take a separate recorded vote on the moratorium at the May 5 meeting; the moratorium and next steps are under Council review. The discussion highlighted immediate operational and regulatory challenges: private lots with limited clearances, the unmowed mill site near residences, and the need to align local mitigation with state wildfire rules.
