Chapter 477 — Chapter 477

ORS 477.503 Reduction of wildfire risk. (1) As used in this section, “wildland-urban interface” has the meaning given that term in ORS 477.015

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ORS 477.504 No effect on management of private lands. ORS 477.503 does not expand, diminish or otherwise affect a right, privilege, duty or function established under federal, state or local laws or rules that pertain to the management of private lands in this state. [2021 c.592 §19]

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ORS 477.505 [1965 c.253 §93; 1969 c.204 §3; 1997 c.274 §10; renumbered 477.508 in 2025]

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ORS 477.506 Wildfire risk reduction program annual report. (1) The State Forestry Department shall annually report regarding the wildfire risk reduction program and the implementation of a 20-year landscape resiliency plan to a committee or interim committee of the Legislative Assembly related to wildfire issues, in the manner provided in ORS 192.245, to the State Wildfire Programs Director and to the Wildfire Programs Advisory Council

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ORS 477.508 State Forester may declare fire season in district. (1) When conditions of fire hazard exist in a forest protection district or any part thereof, the State Forester may designate for that district or any part thereof the date of the beginning of a fire season for that year. The fire season shall continue for that district or part thereof until ended by order of the State Forester when conditions of fire hazard no longer exist in that district or part thereof

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ORS 477.510 Acts prohibited during fire season. It is unlawful, during a fire season inside or within one-eighth of one mile of a forest protection district, to

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ORS 477.512 Additional acts prohibited during fire season. (1) As used in this section

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ORS 477.515 Permits required for fires on forestlands; waiver; permit conditions; cooperative agreements for permit administration; rules. (1) It is unlawful to set or cause to be set an open fire inside or within one-eighth of one mile of a forest protection district, either on one’s own land or on the land of another, without first securing a written permit for burning from the forester and complying with the conditions of the permit. In granting permits for burning

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ORS 477.520 Refusal, suspension or revocation of permits. The forester may refuse, suspend or revoke a permit authorized by or issued under ORS 477.515 (1), when necessary in the judgment of the forester to prevent danger to life, health, forest resources or property. The forester may also refuse, suspend or revoke a permit authorized by or issued under ORS 477.515 (1), when necessary in the judgment of the forester, and after consultation with the Environmental Quality Commission to prevent air pollution, as defined in ORS 468A.005. [1965 c.253 §96; 1969 c.680 §2; 1997 c.274 §13]

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ORS 477.525 [1965 c.253 §97; repealed by 1967 c.429 §14 (477.526 enacted in lieu of 477.525)]

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ORS 477.526 [1967 c.429 §15 (enacted in lieu of 477.525); repealed by 1969 c.204 §8]

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ORS 477.530 [1965 c.253 §98; repealed by 1997 c.274 §55]

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ORS 477.532 Regional air quality authority’s functions limited. None of the functions of the Environmental Quality Commission under ORS 477.013, 477.515 and 477.520 shall be performed by any regional air quality authority established pursuant to ORS 468A.105. [1969 c.680 §5; 1997 c.274 §49]

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ORS 477.535 Forester may proclaim forestland subject to restricted uses; coordination of state and federal land restrictions. (1) If the forester determines that any forestland inside or within one-eighth of one mile of a forest protection district is particularly exposed to fire danger, by proclamation the forester may designate such forestland as an extra fire hazard and may restrict the use of such forestland

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ORS 477.540 Notice of proclamation; suspension or termination; reinstatement. (1) The forester shall cause a notice of the closure proclaimed under ORS 477.535 to be posted in conspicuous locations that are in or near the designated areas. The forester shall cause a notice of each proclamation to be published in at least one newspaper published in each forest protection district containing the designated areas. Each published notice shall describe the area, type, restrictions and effective date of closure

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ORS 477.545 Restricted uses during closure. (1) Regulated closures require entrants into designated areas to comply with the requirements set forth in the proclamation under ORS 477.535, which requirements in the judgment of the forester are necessary to prevent danger to life, forest resources or property

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ORS 477.550 Violation of restrictions; access for fire fighting permitted. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, it is unlawful to enter any restricted area except in compliance with ORS 477.535 and 477.545, or to violate any of the requirements or restrictions under such sections

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ORS 477.552 Policy. It is the policy of the State of Oregon

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ORS 477.554 Program establishment; content. (1) With the advice and assistance of the advisory committee established under ORS 477.556, and subject to the review of the State Board of Forestry, the State Forester shall adopt and implement programs for meeting the objectives set forth in ORS 477.013 and 477.552 to 477.562. The programs shall include

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ORS 477.556 Advisory committee; membership; terms; staff. (1) An advisory committee shall be created by the State Forester to advise and assist the State Forester in carrying out the programs required by ORS 477.013, 477.515 and 477.552 to 477.562. The advisory committee shall consist of five members as set forth in subsections (2) and (3) of this section

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ORS 477.558 Functions for advisory committee. The advisory committee created under ORS 477.556 shall

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ORS 477.560 Oregon Forest Smoke Management Account; moneys paid to account; use. (1) The Oregon Forest Smoke Management Account is established separate and distinct from the General Fund in the State Treasury

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ORS 477.562 Registration fee; rules. (1) The State Forestry Department shall collect a nonrefundable registration fee for Class 1 forestland under ORS 526.324 to be burned west of the summit of the Cascade Mountains, not including Hood River County

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ORS 477.565 Felling dead trees and snags; rules. (1) In an operation area on forestland inside or within one-eighth of one mile of a forest protection district

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ORS 477.570 [Formerly 477.242; repealed by 1973 c.46 §8]

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ORS 477.575 [Formerly 477.244; 1969 c.680 §3; 1973 c.46 §4; repealed by 1987 c.154 §1]

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ORS 477.580 Determination of additional fire hazards; notice to landowner; plan for reducing hazard; release from liability. (1) Following the issuance of a permit pursuant to ORS 477.625, and after slashing has been created in an operation area inside or within one-eighth of one mile of a forest protection district, the forester may make a determination if such slashing and debris exists on the operation area in sufficient quantity and arrangement as to constitute an additional fire hazard that endangers life, forest resources or property, and if such area is in need of additional work or protection to reduce, abate or offset the additional fire hazard. Whenever practical, the forester shall make the determination referred to in this subsection during the administration and enforcement of the Oregon Forest Practices Act

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ORS 477.585 [1967 c.429 §56; repealed by 1973 c.46 §8]

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ORS 477.605 Enjoining violations of ORS 477.615 and 477.645 to 477.655. Any person violating any provisions of ORS 477.615 and 477.645 to 477.655 may be enjoined in an appropriate judicial proceeding from the further use of such equipment until the person complies with these sections. [Formerly 477.218; 1997 c.274 §19]

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ORS 477.610 Standardization of fire-fighting equipment used to protect forestland; rules. (1) Notwithstanding any other law, the State Forester, in cooperation with other forest protection associations and agencies, shall carry on a continuous program for the standardization of equipment used for the protection of forestland from fire, and may issue rules, with the approval of the State Board of Forestry, for such standardization where it is the finding of the forester and board that such standardization is economically feasible

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ORS 477.615 Additional water supply and equipment; rules. (1) During a fire season inside or within one-eighth of one mile of a forest protection district, when, in the judgment of the forester, an operation is of sufficient size or so planned and operated as to justify additional protection from fire, the owner or operator, when so directed by the forester in writing, shall provide, within such time as is specified in the writing, additional water supply and equipment for use in fire suppression that is in conformity with rules promulgated by the State Forester

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ORS 477.620 [Formerly 477.215; repealed by 1995 c.605 §1]

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ORS 477.625 Permit to use fire or power-driven machinery; exception; conditions; waiver of permit. (1) Every person conducting an operation inside or within one-eighth of one mile of a forest protection district that uses fire in any form or power-driven machinery shall first obtain from the forester a written permit, which shall require that the holder of the permit

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ORS 477.627 [1975 c.185 §3; repealed by 1975 c.185 §6]

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ORS 477.630 Information in permit. (1) Each permit issued under ORS 477.625 shall include

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ORS 477.635 Authority to issue, refuse, suspend or revoke permit. The forester may issue the permits required in ORS 477.625 and suspend or revoke such permits because of violation of the terms thereof or noncompliance with this chapter. The forester shall refuse to issue a permit to any person for the conduct of an operation when, in the judgment of the forester, an excessive amount of forest debris in and around the operation area results in an extreme fire hazard that endangers life, forest resources or property. [Formerly 477.288; 1997 c.274 §23]

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ORS 477.640 Use and refueling of power saws. During a fire season, every person using, operating or fueling a saw powered by an internal combustion engine inside or within one-eighth of one mile of a forest protection district shall comply with the rules of the State Forester relating thereto, promulgated for the prevention and suppression of fire. [Formerly 477.290; 1997 c.274 §24]

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ORS 477.645 Internal combustion engines; rules. (1) During a fire season every person operating an internal combustion engine inside or within one-eighth of one mile of a forest protection district shall equip and maintain the engine in conformity with rules promulgated by the State Forester. These rules shall prescribe such equipment as reasonably is necessary to prevent the escape of fire from such an engine

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ORS 477.650 Stationary internal combustion engines; rules; waiver. (1) During a fire season every person operating a stationary internal combustion engine inside or within one-eighth of one mile of a forest protection district shall provide at each engine on an operation area a water supply, and equipment for its use in fire suppression, in conformity with rules promulgated by the State Forester. These rules shall prescribe such water supply and equipment as reasonably are necessary to prevent the spread of fire and may provide for the use of alternate methods and equipment

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ORS 477.655 Fire-fighting tools and equipment at operation area and on trucks; rules. During a fire season inside or within one-eighth of one mile of a forest protection district

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ORS 477.660 Additional protection facilities or services at operation area. During a fire season when in the judgment of the forester any operation inside or within one-eighth of one mile of a forest protection district has a fire hazard requiring additional protection, the operator shall provide such other facilities or services as the forester by written notice may direct. [Formerly 477.187; 1967 c.429 §21; 1997 c.274 §28]

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ORS 477.665 Fire watch service; rules; waiver. (1) During a fire season inside or within one-eighth of one mile of a forest protection district, every operator using power-driven machinery in an operation area shall provide fire watch service on the operation area. The fire watch service shall consist of not less than one competent person, who shall be constantly on duty at times prescribed by rules promulgated by the State Forester. These rules shall require fire watch service at such times and at such places as the spread of fire on or from the operation area to forestland reasonably may be expected

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ORS 477.670 When use of fire or power-driven machinery prohibited. During a fire season inside or within one-eighth of one mile of a forest protection district situated west of the summit of the Cascade Mountains, if the forestland in such district, or any part thereof, is susceptible in the judgment of the forester to damage by fire, the forester shall issue notice to that effect. Thereafter the use of fire in any form by any person in any operation area or the use of power-driven machinery for any operation, is unlawful unless approved by the forester. Approval shall be granted only when in the judgment of the forester the activity will not constitute a fire hazard sufficient to justify the requirement. [Formerly 477.282; 1993 c.415 §3; 1997 c.274 §30]

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ORS 477.685 [Formerly 477.246; repealed by 1995 c.605 §1]

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ORS 477.690 [Formerly 477.248; repealed by 1995 c.605 §1]

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ORS 477.695 Removal of flammable material from railroad rights of way. (1) Every person operating a railroad of any kind in this state inside or within one-eighth of one mile of a forest protection district shall annually or more often, if so ordered in writing by the forester, in a manner and to an extent ordered by the forester, destroy or remove all flammable growth and flammable material from the right of way of the railroad. All burning done to comply with this section must be in accordance with ORS 477.508 to 477.520 and 477.625

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ORS 477.698 Permits for prescribed fires; rules. The State Forestry Department shall adopt rules to clarify that a person may

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ORS 477.705 [Formerly 477.302; repealed by 1983 c.327 §16]

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ORS 477.710 Starting of campfire or other open fire restricted; exceptions. It is unlawful for any person to start a campfire or other open fire without first clearing the area immediately around and above it of material that will carry fire, or leave a campfire or other open fire unattended, or permit a campfire or other open fire to spread. This section does not apply to any activity conducted in compliance with ORS 477.365, 477.515, 477.625, 478.960, 526.041, 526.360 or 527.670. [Formerly 477.304; 1967 c.429 §50; 1993 c.430 §2; 1997 c.274 §32]

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ORS 477.715 [1965 c.253 §129; repealed by 1971 c.743 §432]

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