Open Burning Regulation

Why is the State regulating outdoor burning on my property?

When our state legislators enacted the Washington Clean Air Act in 1991, they made a fundamental choice: Your neighbor’s right to breathe clean air is more important than allowing you to have free disposal of vegetation by burning it. In Clallam County there are a large number of homes with occupants who have chronic respiratory disease. These people are at high risk for suffering adverse health effects, including premature death, when their neighbors burn and they have to breathe the smoke from that burning. Microscopic particles can lodge deep in the lungs, damaging delicate air sacs, aggravating respiratory and cardiovascular illness, and decreasing lung function.

Why do we control outdoor burning?

1. People have the right to enjoy the use of their property without the nuisance of smoke or ash fall-out from a neighbor’s fire.
2. Public compliance with burn regulations, decreases the fire districts’ responses to nuisance smoke and fire complaints.
3. Outdoor fires can escape and cause residential home and property damage.
4. The fire district/department permit process educates our citizens on safe, clean and considerate burning.

What about campfires, cooking or ceremonial fires?

Recreational fires are permitted in campgrounds and on private property for cooking, pleasure and ceremonial purposes. Only seasoned firewood or charcoal should be used. Fires for debris disposal are not considered to be recreational fires. Recreational fires should not be any larger than 3 feet by 3 feet by 2 feet high.

Is there an alternative to outdoor burning?

Yes! Composting, chipping, and recycling are viable alternatives to outdoor burning that create resources, instead of air pollution and a solid waste problem.

Can I burn garbage?

No! Burning garbage in Washington has been illegal since 1973. Use of burn barrels is also illegal. State law prohibits burning anything except natural vegetation. It is illegal to burn garbage, dead animals, asphalt, petroleum products, paints, rubber products, plastics, paper, cardboard, treated wood, construction and demolition debris, metal, and other substances that normally release toxic emissions, dense smoke or obnoxious odors when burned.

Where is burning not allowed?

Burning of any kind except for recreational fires is prohibited within the city limits of Port Angeles and the city of Port Angeles’ Urban Growth area.

Is there a way to find out the regulations and permit processes for where I live in Clallam County?

Yes! To check on burning permits and local requirements, call your local fire department, or the Department of Natural Resources:
CCFD #2 Phone: (360) 452-7725
CCFD #3 Located between Deer Park Rd. and Jefferson County. Phone (360) 683-4242
CCFD #4 (360) 928-3132
DNR All clearing of wooded land 1-800-527-3305 Ext. 114

How do I report outdoor burning violations?

To report burning violations or nuisance fires, call 911. Dispatch will log your complaint and refer it to the appropriate fire agency for response. The fire district or department will visit the site and determine if a violation has occurred. If a violation of state law has occurred, they will take the appropriate corrective actions. This may include putting the fire out and referring the violation to the Clean Air Agency for issuance of a fine of up to $13,000 County Regulations

1. Summer burn regulations, in effect from April 1 through September 30, limit a residential burn pile to no larger than 4’ x 4’ x 3’.
2. Winter burn regulations, in effect from October 1 through March 31, allow a residential burn pile up to 10’ x 10’ x 5’.
3. Burning is not allowed if wind, blowing from any direction, is more than five (5) miles per hour.
4. The burn pile must be located a minimum of sixty (60) feet from any structure.
5. The burn pile must not be within fifty (50) feet of standing timber, and be a minimum of five hundred (500) feet from any forest slash.
6. No residential fire shall be commenced before 6:00 a.m., and no material shall be added to any residential fire after 6:00 p.m.
7. A responsible person shall remain with the fire until the fire is extinguished.
8. Only one (1) residential fire is allowed to be burned at any one time.
9. A shovel and connected water hose shall be on site and immediately available.
10. If the fire creates a nuisance from smoke or from flying ash it must be extinguished.
11. No fires shall be ignited during burn bans. Visit our website at www.clallamfire3.org or call 683-4242 to check on burning bans.
12. If an outdoor container is used for burning, it must be constructed of concrete or masonry with a completely enclosed combustion chamber and equipped with a permanently attached spark arrester constructed of iron, heavy wire mesh or other noncombustible material with openings not larger than one half inch.
13. Metal burn barrels are not permitted.

PENALTIES

Penalties may be assessed for violations of these rules. In addition, the Fire District may recover costs incurred during response, control, or extinguishments of an unlawful or out-of-control fire. Property owner/contractor assumes responsibility for damage to any structure, utility line/pole, tree/shrub, fence, and road/right of way or other public/private edifice by smoke, flying ash or flame, and accepts responsibility for any claimed adverse affects to the health of any person or persons in the path of said smoke/flying ash.