Key facts
- Multnomah County (Portland, Gresham and the rest of the county): daily advisories October 1 to March 1. Red day means no fire pits, chimineas, fireplaces or wood stoves, unless exempt.
- Cooking is not covered in Multnomah County. Grills, smokers and wood-fired ovens are allowed on red days.
- Lane County (Eugene, Springfield, Oakridge urban areas): recreational fires banned on yellow and red days, October through May. Gas and propane pits are inside LRAPA's definition.
- Clark County, Washington (Vancouver, Camas, Battle Ground): Southwest Clean Air Stage 1 and Stage 2 air quality bans both ban recreational fires.
- Summer fire safety bans are separate. Portland's 2026 ban was lifted October 15, and Clark County's on October 1.
Sources: Multnomah County wood burning restrictions and Ordinance 1253 (MCC 21.450 to 21.458); LRAPA Title 47 and LRAPA recreational fires; Southwest Clean Air Agency burn bans; Portland Fire and Rescue burn ban status.
Three agencies, three different rules
| Rule | Multnomah County (Portland) | LRAPA (Eugene, Springfield, Oakridge) | SWCAA (Vancouver, Clark County) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season | October 1 to March 1 | October through May | Year round, when called |
| Advisory levels | Green, yellow, red | Green, yellow, red (issued 2 PM, effective 4 PM for 24 hours) | Stage 1 and Stage 2 air quality bans |
| When fire pits are banned | Red days (yellow: caution) | Yellow and red days | Stage 1 and Stage 2 |
| Gas or propane pits | Not addressed directly | Included in the definition, so banned on yellow and red days | Ban text names recreational fires; check the notice |
| Cooking | Exempt (grills, smokers, wood-fired ovens) | Barbecues are inside the recreational fire definition | Check the notice |
| Penalties | Warnings first, then $250, then $500 | Per LRAPA enforcement rules | Per SWCAA enforcement rules |
The gas row is the one that surprises people. In Lane County the rule text is explicit: LRAPA Title 47 defines a recreational fire as a small fire "lit in chimineas, patio fireplaces, fire pits, or other similar devices using charcoal, natural gas, propane, manufactured firelogs, or clean dry natural firewood." So a propane fire table is not a workaround inside the Eugene and Springfield boundaries on a yellow or red day. In Multnomah County the text is less clear, and we did not find a county statement either way. If you are buying a gas fire table specifically so you can use it on winter red days in Portland, confirm with the county first.
Multnomah County in detail
The county issues an advisory every day of the heating season and posts it on its website, on social media and through local news. Restrictions take effect by noon the same day. A red day means air quality is, or is forecast to be, unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse.
The exemptions in MCC 21.454 are written for heating, not backyard fires. They cover a wood device that is the sole heat source for the home (a home with any installed oil, gas, electric, geothermal, solar or propane system does not qualify), low-income households at or below 60 percent of Oregon median income, emergencies such as power outages or a primary heat failure, and devices certified at 2.5 grams per hour or less. Except in an emergency, you must apply for and receive the exemption before burning on a red day. A fire pit for an evening outside will not fit any of these.
Lane County in detail
LRAPA posts its Home Wood Heating advisory at 2:00 PM daily from October 1 through May 31, effective 4:00 PM for 24 hours. The advisory line is (541) 746-4328. Recreational fires are limited to private property and designated public areas, must stay under 3 feet across and 2 feet high, and cannot be used to burn yard trimmings, leaves or grass. Outside the Eugene, Springfield and Oakridge boundaries, the yellow and red day ban in Title 47 does not apply, but LRAPA notes that local fire districts, the Oregon Department of Forestry and the State Fire Marshal may be stricter.
Vancouver and Clark County in detail
Southwest Clean Air calls a Stage 1 air quality ban when the 24-hour PM2.5 average is forecast to reach 35 micrograms per cubic meter within 48 hours, and a Stage 2 ban under the tighter triggers in its rules. Both ban outdoor burning, including recreational fires. Fire safety bans are called separately by the local fire marshal or the Department of Natural Resources: their Stage 1 bans yard debris burning, and Stage 2 bans all outdoor burning including recreational fires. Southwest Clean Air's FAQ also says state air quality law requires a 50 foot setback from structures, decks and fences for all outdoor fires, beyond the 25 foot fire code setback for recreational wood fires, and it suggests converting wood pits to natural gas or propane to avoid smoke complaints.
What this means when you buy a fire pit
- Portland metro: a wood or smokeless pit will sit idle on winter red days. A gas fire table may not, but get the county's answer in writing before you count on it.
- Eugene and Springfield: fuel type does not help on yellow or red days. Plan winter fires for green days.
- Vancouver: watch both Southwest Clean Air and the fire marshal, since either can stop a fire.
- Everywhere: distance rules still apply on a green day. See how far a fire pit must be from a house.
Related guides
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- Can you use a propane fire pit during a summer burn ban in Washington or Oregon?
- The best fire pits of 2026, ranked by use case
- Washington burn bans and fire pits (Puget Sound)
- Wood vs gas vs smokeless fire pit
- Fire pit distance from a house
- Fire pit collection
- Wood-burning sauna stoves in Washington and Oregon: permits, burn bans, clearances
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my fire pit on a red day in Multnomah County?
No, unless you hold an exemption. Multnomah County Ordinance 1253 (MCC 21.453) says no person shall operate a wood burning device or permit recreational burning during a red day air quality advisory. The county's wood burning page lists outdoor fire pits and chimineas among the devices you may not use, and says restrictions take effect by noon the same day.
When does Multnomah County issue wood burning advisories?
Daily during the winter heating season, October 1 through March 1, under MCC 21.453. A yellow day means consider limiting burning. A red day means no burning is allowed, with exemptions for sole-source wood heat, low-income households and emergencies such as power outages.
What is the fine for burning on a red day in Multnomah County?
Under MCC 21.457, first and second violations may result in a warning. A third violation may bring a civil penalty of $250, and a fourth or later violation may bring $500.
Can I still grill or use a pizza oven on a red day in Portland?
Yes. Multnomah County says the ordinance does not apply to cooking food, so charcoal grills, smokers and wood-fired ovens are allowed. Portland Fire and Rescue still asks for 10 feet between outdoor cooking and anything combustible such as siding, fences and shrubs.
Are gas or propane fire pits allowed on a red day in Portland?
The ordinance does not say directly. It defines a wood burning device as one capable of burning wood, which a gas fire table is not, but it defines recreational burning broadly as any outdoor burning on commercial or residential property. We found no county statement on gas fire pits, so ask the Multnomah County Health Department before relying on one during a red day.
What are the fire pit rules in Eugene and Springfield?
Inside the Eugene and Springfield urban growth boundaries, and in Oakridge and its urban growth boundary, LRAPA Title 47 prohibits recreational fires on yellow and red Home Wood Heating advisory days from October through May. LRAPA's definition of a recreational fire includes fire pits, chimineas and patio fireplaces burning natural gas, propane, charcoal, manufactured logs or clean dry firewood.
Does the LRAPA ban cover gas fire pits?
Read literally, yes. LRAPA Title 47 defines a recreational fire as a small fire in a fire pit, chiminea, patio fireplace or similar device using charcoal, natural gas, propane, manufactured firelogs or clean dry firewood, and those fires are prohibited on yellow and red days inside the Eugene, Springfield and Oakridge boundaries from October through May. That is stricter than Puget Sound Clean Air's ban text, which names only wood and charcoal.
Can I use a fire pit in Vancouver, Washington during a burn ban?
Not during a Southwest Clean Air Agency Stage 1 or Stage 2 air quality burn ban, both of which ban outdoor burning including recreational fires. A Stage 2 fire safety burn ban from the fire marshal or DNR also bans recreational fires. Clark County bans outdoor burning July through September by policy, and in 2026 lifted it October 1.
How far must a fire pit be from my house in Portland?
Portland Fire and Rescue FIR 3.08 sets recreational fires at no more than 3 feet across and 2 feet high and at least 25 feet from structures or combustibles. Portable outdoor fireplaces need 15 feet and the maker's instructions, though the 15 feet does not apply at one- and two-family homes.
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