Wildfire Danger Level
April 27, 2024
Questions about burning restrictions?
Yard Waste
Air Quality Burn Bans
State Burn Bans
CleanAir
Open Burning - Frequently Asked Questions
Open burning is burning of household yard waste, such as leaves, grass, brush and other yard trimmings. It is also burning to clear land of trees, stumps, shrubbery, or other natural vegetation.
Outdoor burning can harm health, the environment, and property:
- Burning pollutes the air, causing serious health problems. The smoke from burning leaves, grass, brush, and tree needles can cause asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, and lung cancer. Children, the elderly, and those with breathing problems are most harmed by poor air quality.
- Burning also pollutes our water and soil. Smoke particles fall into our water and on our soil.
- Backyard fires can destroy property. Backyard fires that get out of control set off most of the wildfires caused by people. You can be held responsible for the cost of putting out your out-of-control fire, which can be very expensive.
You can be fined thousands of dollars per day for each violation. You can also be held responsible for the cost of putting out the fire. This can also cost thousands of dollars.
Smoke causes the health problems no matter where you live. Every community has smoke sensitive populations and burning effects their health and livelyhood.
Sometimes it does. It depends on weather and geography. For example, if you live in a valley, smoke settles after sunset when cool air drops down from higher elevations. This cool, dense air carries smoke from outdoor fires and woodstoves, and accumulates near the valley bottom.
Although some smoke may escape through valley openings or gaps and spread to another area, most of the smoke remains trapped until the sun has warmed the ground. Then, the warm air rises and may carry the smoke out of the valley. In the winter, the days rarely warm up enough to carry away the smoke, and more smoke gets added each day. Even on summer nights, smoke can reach unhealthy levels before being cleared out the following day.
The Legislature decided to allow farm and orchard burning under certain conditions. Ecology issues burn permits to farmers and orchardists based on the reason for burning, the weather conditions, and the effects of the smoke on nearby people. Ecology gives advance notice about when burns will happen.
Forest burning otherwise known as "prescribed fire" is allowed because it helps keep our forests healthy. However, it is done under strict guidelines by professionals.
You can report an illegal burn to:
Department of Ecology
1-866-211-6284
Garbage burning and burn barrels are illegal everywhere in Washington, and have been for many years.