For an on-line burn permit, click here. 

Please pay attention to media reports,

• If the status has changed during a weekend, we may not available to update the webpage or to be contacted by telephone.  There is a Permenant Burn Ban in Thurston County from July 15th to October 15th.  Legal Recreational Burns allowed.

NO BURN Status:

• No burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves, unless this is your only adequate source of heat, and all outdoor burning is prohibited, even in areas where outdoor burning is not permanently banned.

OPEN Status:

• Burn only natural vegetation, No treated or untreated lumber garbage, plastic, dead animals, petroleum products, paint, etc., or any substance that emits dense smoke or obnoxious odors.

Burn barrels are prohibited in Washington state.

 Residential burning is allowed in piles smaller than 10'x10'x6' outside the District's No-Burn areas with a written permit. If you would like help determining if you are within a no burn area, please give Southwest Clean Air Agency a call at (360) 574-3058. These permits can be picked up at your nearest fire station and they are free.

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. 

Is there a cost for Burn Permits?

Burn Permits are free of charge.

What can I burn?

Only natural vegetation grown on the site.

When is burning allowed?

Burning is allowed from October 15th thru July 15th except during periods of impaired air quality or when burn curtailments are in effect.  

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 Olympic Region Clean Air Agency at (360) 586-1044 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.
• 
  

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.

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.