Outdoor Burning

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.

Some open burning is allowed in District 2 when there is no seasonal or air quality burn ban in effect.  Always check this web page and the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency website for burn ban information before burning.

If no burn bans are in place, the following types of fires may be allowed:

All areas:

• Recreational fires no larger than 3 feet across, at least 25 feet from the nearest structure, using clean dry firewood.  All recreational fires must be attended by a responsible adult.

Outside the Town of Fairfield:

• Yard debris fires no larger than 3 feet across, at least 25 feet from the nearest structure, and attended by a responsible adult.  Permits are required for all yard debris fires.  All materials burnt must have grown on the property where the fire is occurring.  Contact us to request a yard debris permit.  Yard debris fires are never allowed within Fairfield city limits.
• Agricultural burning may be allowed within the guidelines found on the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency's Agricultural Burning Fact Sheet.  Permits are required for all agricultural burns.  Permits for yard debris fires issued by District 2 do not cover agricultural burns.  Permits for agricultural burns can be obtained at the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency website.
• Silvicultural debris fires to dispose of materials from unimproved timber ground are allowed in under Washington State Department of Natural Resource rules found here.  DNR may also be contacted by phone for more information: 509-685-6900.

Burning of dimensional lumber (such as 2x4s and 2x6s) and treated lumber is never allowed.

Garbage burning and burn barrels are illegal everywhere in Washington, and have been for many years.

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.

You can report in progress illegal outdoor burning to 911.

To report air quality concerns associated with fire place use, call the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency at 509-477-4727.