Open 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.

“Urban growth boundary” is a term used by cities and counties to define where home and business development is allowed. More development is allowed inside an urban growth area. For example, four houses per acre might be allowed in the urban growth area, while only one house per five acres might be allowed outside the boundary.

To find out if you live in the urban growth boundary, click the link below, or contact us.

LINK HERE

Yes, but there are rules:

• Depending on the type and size of you burn you may need a permit from either the Washington Department of Natural Resources or the State of Washington Department of Ecology.
  
  DCFD5 does not issue permits.
  
  
• During wildfire season, you must follow the restrictions asociated with the Douglas County Wildfire Danger Level. This includes recreational fires.
• For any burn other than a recreational fire you must abide by the daily burn decision issued by Department of Ecology for our Fire District.

Call your local solid waste department to find out what options are available to you. These options may include:

• Sealed compost bin
• Chip
• Use curbside pickup
• Haul to yard waste disposal stations
• Hold community-wide or neighborhood cleanup days

Do not pile yard waste where it can burn and contribute to the spread of wildfire.

Call your solid waste department to find out where you can take your yard waste until other options are available.

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 up to $10,000 per day for each violation. You can also be held responsible for the cost of putting out the fire. This can 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 illegle burn to:

Rivercom 911 dispatchers:
509-663-9911
(do not call 911 unless active fire is threatening life or property).

DCFD5:
509-683-1114

Department of Ecology
1-866-211-6284

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