St. Helens Spring Burn Period Postponed Due to COVID-19

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 7, 2020

ST. HELENS, OR – Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and recent guidelines issued by the State of Oregon regarding outdoor burning, the City of St. Helens is postponing its 2020 spring burn period.

Oregonians have been asked to voluntarily refrain from open burning until further notice since smoke from nearby open burning can worsen the conditions of COVID-19 patients. Exposure to smoke can also increase the risk of contracting infectious respiratory diseases such as COVID-19, and there is a severe shortage of personal protective equipment right now to reduce smoke exposure.

In order to support these guidelines and protect vulnerable community members, the St. Helens spring period is postponed until further notice. The safety of our community members is the City’s number one priority during the pandemic. The City of St. Helens will evaluate the possibility of an alternate burn period once stay at home orders have been lifted, weather permitting. 

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For further information regarding the St. Helens spring burn postponement, please contact Communications Officer Crystal King at crystalf@ci.st-helens.or.us.