Being a good neighbor excludes backyard burn piles that pollute the air and/or threaten the house next door.
“We’ve had to shut doors and windows because of the smell and smoke from a neighbor’s burn pile,” a rural resident said. “We’ve seen piles that included plastic bins, a plastic table and rugs.
“We know our neighbor burns plastics because we can smell it,” she added.
“There are environmental hazards and carcinogens. I suspect (they) burn their trash, too.”
When backyard burning is allowed, it is against the law to have any fire that unreasonably interferes with enjoyment of life or property or creates a public or private nuisance ora hazard to public safety. DEQ regulations prohibit open burning of the following items at anytime in Oregon: rubber and plastic products, tires, garbage,petroleum and petroleum-treated materials, asphalt or industrial waste or any material that creates dense smoke or noxious odors.
