Outdoor Burning
Washington State law prohibits residential burning and land-clearing fires in all areas served by Central Pierce Fire & Rescue. This means the burning of yard waste (leaves, branches, twigs, etc.) is not allowed. Using burn barrels and burning any type of garbage is also prohibited.
The outdoor burning law is enforced by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and not Central Pierce Fire & Rescue. We are required, however, to investigate burning complaints and will ask that outdoor burning fires be extinguished. For questions, please contact the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency at 1(800)552-3565.
Recreational Fires
Recreational fires are allowed within Central Pierce Fire & Rescue on your private property. According to state rules the term “recreational fires” means, “Cooking fires and campfires using charcoal or firewood for cooking or pleasure. Fires used for debris disposal purposes are not considered recreational fires.”
Recreational fires are allowed with a free permit issued by Central Pierce Fire & Rescue. Permits are valid for one year and must be kept on site. Permits are available at all Central Pierce Fire & Rescue fire stations (providing the crews are in quarters) and at our headquarters, Station 6-0 (17520 22nd Ave. E.) during normal business hours.
Recreational Fire Requirements
• Recreational fires must be contained in a fire pit constructed of concrete, rock or non-combustible material.
• Pits shall not exceed 3 feet in diameter or 2 feet in height.
• The depth of the pit shall be a minimum of 4 inches and capable of containing all burned material.
• A minimum of 10 feet shall be maintained around the entire pit, free of all vegetation and any other combustible material, including overhanging limbs from trees.
• Fires must be attended at all times.
Burning Bans
If a fire safety ban is in place (typically called in the summer), or if an air-quality burn ban is called (typically in the fall and winter), all outdoor fires are prohibited on public and private property. In this case, recreational fires are not allowed even with a permit.
As of November 24, 2008, a new burn ban season is upon us and this one will be different from those in past falls and winters.
• The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency will be calling both Stage 1 and Stage 2 burn bans, often in sequence.
• Stage 2 burn bans are more restrictive than the more familiar Stage 1 burn bans and ban ALL wood burning, even from certified wood stoves and pellet stoves.
• Our Puget Sound region will likely have longer burn bans, and perhaps more of them.
• And more fines may be issued for people violating the bans.
What is prompting this change?
First, in late 2006, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tightened the 24-hour health standard for fine particle pollution, also known as PM2.5. And earlier this year, our Washington State Legislature lowered the air-quality trigger for calling a burn ban to align with this new EPA standard.
The reason for these actions is to better protect public health because the soot and smoke that makes up these fine particles are associated with serious health effects. The tiny size of these pollutants allows them to be easily inhaled, bypassing the immune system and proceeding deep into the lungs, where they can cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems, including premature death.
So what's this mean if you heat your home with wood or pellet fuel?
During a burn ban, we're basically asking people to rely on their home's other, cleaner source of heat (such as their furnace or electric baseboard heaters) for a few days until air quality improves, the risk to public health is diminished and a ban is cancelled.
If agency inspectors observe a burn ban violation, they will issue a Notice of Violation to the property owner and recommend a $1,000 penalty.
The rules for a Stage 1 burn ban are the same as in the past:
• No burning is allowed in wood-burning fireplaces, uncertified wood stoves or fireplace inserts, unless this is your only adequate source of heat.
• No visible smoke is allowed from any wood stove or fireplace, certified or not, beyond a 20-minute start-up period.
• All outdoor burning is prohibited, even in areas where outdoor burning is not permanently banned.
When a burn ban goes to Stage 2:
• NO burning is allowed in ANY wood-burning fireplaces, wood stoves or fireplace inserts (certified or uncertified) or pellet stoves, unless this is your only adequate source of heat. Natural gas and propane stoves or inserts ARE allowed.
• All outdoor burning is prohibited, even in areas where outdoor burning is not permanently banned.
• If our agency inspectors see any smoke being emitted from a chimney during a Stage 2 burn ban, they can assume a fireplace, wood or pellet stove is in use and a penalty is warranted.
Maybe you're wondering what "adequate source of heat means." Technically, this means the ability to maintain 70 degrees Fahrenheit at a point three feet above the floor in all normally inhabited areas of a dwelling. This is according to WAC 173-433-030.
To make sure you are among the first to know when burn bans are issued and cancelled, or advised when weather conditions indicate a ban is likely, sign up for e-notification at www.pscleanair.org/signup.
You can also check burn-ban status by calling the Burn Ban InfoLine at 1-800-595-4341.
For more details about the burn ban changes and how we determine when a Stage 1 and Stage 2 burn ban is called, click to www.pscleanair.org/airq/burnban/background.aspx.
To learn about cleaner heating choices, including natural gas and propane stoves that can be used during a burn ban and work during a power outage, click to www.pscleanair.org/CleanHeating.
For tips on cleaner wood-burning techniques to follow when there is not a burn ban, click to www.pscleanair.org/BurningBasics.
To learn about the health impacts from wood smoke, click to www.pscleanair.org/actions/smoke.aspx
Learn more about the Wood Stove Replacement Program of Puget Sound. You may be eligible to receive $750-$3,000 for your old wood stove! Click to www.pscleanair.org/woodstove.replacement.