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Frequently asked questions:
How do I know if my fire needs a Burn
Permit?
Is there a cost
for a Burn Permit?
What can I burn?
When is burning
allowed?
What rules must
I follow?
What
alternatives are there to burning yard debris?
How do I get a
Burn Permit?
ANSWERS
How do I
know if my fire needs a Burn Permit?
Burn Permits are required for any residential burning except
recreational fires which are limited to 4'x4' in size.
Permits for fires up to 10'x10' by 5' high can be obtained from the fire
department.
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Is there a
cost for Burn Permits?
Burn Permits are free of charge.
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What can I
burn?
Only natural vegetation grown on the site.
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When is burning allowed?
Burning is allowed from October 16th thru July 14th except
during periods of impaired air quality or when burn curtailments
are in effect.
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What rules
must I follow?
- Burning may only occur during
daylight hours.
- If winds exceed 5 mph fires shall
not be lighted. If winds exceed 10 mph, fires must be
extinguished.
- Burn pile must not exceed 10 feet by
10 feet by 5 feet in height.
- The burn pile must be no closer than
50 feet from any structure or standing timber or 10 feet
from a property line.
- Fires are not permitted within five
hundred (500) feet of forest slash.
- Fires must be attended until
completely out - NO FLAME, NO SMOKE
- Only one residential outdoor fire
may be burned at any one time.
- A shovel and water-charged hose
shall on site and immediately available. A minimum of
two five-gallon buckets full of water may substitute for the
water-charged hose.
- Fires shall not be allowed during
periods of impaired air quality or when burn curtailments
are in effect. Before starting any outdoor fire, call
Thurston County at (360) 786-5477 for recorded information.
- Fires must be immediately
extinguished, if any emission from the fire is detrimental
to the health, safety, or welfare of any person, if it
causes damage to property or business, or it it causes a
nuisance to others.
- Burn barrels are not
permitted.
- Alternatives to Residential Outdoor
Burning are encouraged.
- Applicant is responsible to ensure
compliance with all local, state and federal laws while
conducting burning pursuant to the permit.
PROHIBITED MATERIALS:
It is against state law for any person to allow any outdoor fire that contains
any of the following:
- Household garbage or trash
(including cardboard or paper - other than what is necessary
to start the fire.
- Dead animals
- Asphalt
- Petroleum products
- Paints
- Rubber products
- Plastics
- Treated wood
- Construction/demolition debris
- Metal
- Any other substance, which normally
emits dense smoke or noxious odors when burned.
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What
alternatives are there to burning yard debris?
Curbside yard waste collection -
call your garbage/recycling provider to see if collection of
yard waste is available
Mobile chip and grind program -
Drop off woody yard debris for free at bi-monthly events.
Only woody material 15" in diameter or less (no stumps
excepted). Program runs March through Junes and September
through November. Call for dates. (360) 740-6800.
Call Thurston County Solid Waste at
(360) 754-2953 for more information on the following programs:
- Neighborhood Chipping Days
Get four or more neighborhood households together and sign
up for 2 free hours of chipping. Branches and brush
6" in diameter and less are accepted. You keep
the chips! Program runs April through October.
- Haul to the Compost Center at the
Waste and Recovery Center.
Call Water and Waste Management for more information.
- Backyard composting-bins and
workshops available.
Get instructions to make your own compost bin, buy a
reduced-rate compost bin, and learn the do's and don'ts of
home composting at workshops. Call for workshop dates.
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How do I get
a Burn Permit?
Burn Permits are available at District fire stations or
through our web site. For an
on-line burn permit, click
here.
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