OAR 837-110-0080: Fire Safety Buffer Zones

A fire safety buffer zone shall parallel both sides of all highways and roadways within the scope and application of these rules. The buffer zone shall extend 1/2 mile in a perpendicular direction from the outer edge of each highway or roadway right-of-way. No field burning shall be allowed in fire safety buffer zones except as provided in sections (1) and (2) of this rule: (1) Interstate Highways west of the crest of the Cascade Range, south to the Douglas/Lane County lines: (a) Field burning may be permitted in the fire safety buffer zone only where a 1/4-mile-wide noncombustible ground surface is provided between the field to be burned and the nearest edge of the freeway right-of-way. Noncombustible ground surfaces shall meet the criteria described in section (3) of this rule; (b) The 1/4-mile noncombustible ground surface shall extend 1/4 mile each direction beyond the permitted field boundaries parallel to the freeway right-of-way. (2) Other Roadways: (a) Field burning may be permitted in the fire safety buffer zone only where a 1/8-mile-wide noncombustible ground surface is provided between the field to be burned and the nearest edge of the highway right-of-way. Noncombustible ground surfaces shall meet the criteria described in section (3) of this rule; (b) The 1/8 mile noncombustible ground surface shall extend 1/8 mile in each direction beyond the permitted field boundaries parallel to the highway right-of-way; (c) The designated roadways to which this section applies are: (A) ORE 99 — The section from Junction City to Eugene; (B) ORE 99E — The sections from Oregon City to Salem and from Albany to Junction City; (C) ORE 99W — The entire section from Portland to Junction City; (D) US 20 — The section from Philomath to Lebanon; (E) ORE 22 — The section from ORE 18 to Mehama; (F) US 26 — The section from ORE 47 interchange to Portland; (G) ORE 34 — The section from Corvallis to Lebanon. (3) Noncombustible ground surfaces mentioned in subections (1)(a) and (b) and (2)(a) and (b) of this rule may be provided by planting a noncombustible ground cover approved by the State Fire Marshal or by disking and plowing the surface. Other alternative methods may be recognized by the State Fire Marshal or designee. (4) The Department of the State Fire Marshal or designee with the concurrence of the Department of the State Fire Marshal may grant specific written approval: (a) Not to provide the extensions required by subsections (2)(a) and (b) of this rule, when natural barriers such as rivers or other noncombustible surfaces exists; or (b) For the use of alternative methods to provide the noncombustible ground surfaces required by subsections (1)(a) and (b) and (2)(a) and (b) of this rule.