Burn bans

Fire safety burn bans

Fire safety burn bans are called by the Washington Department of Natural Resources, local fire districts, and Tribes to protect people and property when wildfire danger is high. These burn bans limit outdoor, residential, agricultural, and forest burning.

If you live in an urban growth area, you may not be allowed to have an outdoor fire at any time. Find out about outdoor burning before lighting any fire.

Make a clean air fan

Learn how to make a low-cost clean air fan. This simple fan-filter combination can reduce the amount of the tiny, harmful particles you breathe from wood smoke, wildfire smoke, dust, vehicle exhaust, and pesticide spray. Use it in a small room, with the windows and doors closed.

Air quality burn bans

Air quality burn bans are called by Ecology, local clean air agencies, and tribes to protect people's health. A burn ban limits wood stove use and outdoor burning.

Ecology calls burn bans only in counties with no local clean air agency. These counties are: Adams, Asotin, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, San Juan, Stevens, Walla Walla, and Whitman. Burn bans do not apply to homes with no other source of heat.

Report illegal burning

Using a burn barrel is illegal.  Burning in an urban growth area is also illegal. Report illegal burning if you see it.

Law and rules about burn bans

• Limitations on burning wood for heat
• Criteria for impaired air quality burn bans
• Restrictions on operation of solid fuel burning devices