| Did you know it is
illegal to burn the following materials in an
outdoor fire? |
| Paint, Construction Debris,
Tires, Cardboard, Dead Animals, Demolition Debris,
Petroleum Products, Asphalt, Plastic, Metals,
treated wood and paper. |
| |
| What can I burn
then? |
| The only approved item that
you may burn outdoors is natural vegetation
(Residential yard waste like weeds or leaves). |
| |
| How much of this
natural vegetation can I burn? |
| You may only burn one 4' X 4'
X 3' pile at a time. |
| |
| Can I use a burn
barrel to burn the natural vegetation? |
| NO. Burn barrels are
and have been illegal in Washington State since
2000. There are many fires, whether it be
wildalnd or structural, that start every year in the
Grant County Area as a direct result of burning in a
burn barrel. Ultimately, you could be held
criminally and civilly liable for any damage done by
a fire resulting from a burn barrel. |
| |
| What is the
definition of Residential Burning? |
| Residential Burning means the
outdoor burning of leaves, clippings, pruning and
other yard and gardening refuse originating on lands
immediately adjacent and in close proximity to a
human dwelling and burned on such lands by the
property owner or his or her designee. |
| |
| Can I use a burn to
clear off my land? |
| Yes. Although
restrictions and possibly permits may apply in order
for you to conduct one. You are encouraged to
contact the Washington State Department of Ecology
for more information. |
| |
| What is the
definition of Land Clearing burning? |
| Land Clearing burning means
outdoor burning of trees, stumps, shrubbery, or
other natural vegetation from land clearing projects
(i.e. projects that clear the land surface so it can
be developed, used for a different purpose, or left
unused). |
| |
| Is there anywhere I
can't burn? |
| On January 1, 2007 the
Washington Clean Air Act banned ALL burning
in Urban Growth areas. This includes the city
limits of Ephrata. There are some pockets of
Urban Growth areas in the District 13 boundaries.
Click on the following links to view maps of the
urban growth areas in:
Grant County
City of Ephrata (showing some areas of Dist. 13)
You are also not allowed to
have any type of a burn within 50 feet of a
structure. Additionally no residential burns are
allowed within 500 feet of forest slash. |
| |
| Can I burn at night? |
| NO. Residential and
Land clearing burns at night are prohibited.
These burns are often seen by citizens passing by
and are reported to the 9-1-1 dispatch center.
Ultimately, fire units are then dispatched to your
residential or land clearing burn even though you
may have it under control. |
| |
| What if the smoke is
drifting over to my neighbors house? |
| If the smoke from your
residential or land clearing burn is impacting your
neighbors you must extinguish it immediately.
Therefore it is important to choose your burn day
carefully, taking into account the winds and
temperatures. This will not only help in not
impacting your neighbors, but will keep your fire
safe and will lesson the chances of it escaping from
your control. |
| |
| What are some
alternatives to burning? |
| Burning is not always the
best option. You may also consider turning the
yard waste into compost or having it chipped and
hauled away by your local garbage disposal company. |
| |
| What about
agricultural burns? |
| A permit is required before
you can conduct an agricultural burn. An
agricultural burn is a burn of orchard trees (if the
orchard will be replanted) open fields or harvest
debris.
Everyday there is
a decision made if agricultural burning will be
allowed. You can call 509-329-3400 for the
daily burn decision or visit the Washington State
Department of Ecology's burn decision page at:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/aginfo/dailyburncallpage.htm |
| |
| What do I need to do
to conduct a safe burn? |
| Always call
before you burn. Advise the MACC 9-1-1
dispatch center at 762-1160. Never leave your
fire unattended. If there is enough wind to
significantly affect your fire, consider burning
another day. Finally always have a water
source nearby to help extinguish any problem spots. |
| |
| For more
information on burning tips and restrictions contact
the Washington State Department of Ecology or visit
their website at:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/outdoor_woodsmoke/residentialburn.htm
|
| Some of the
information on this page was obtained from the WSDOE
website. |
