In Effect July 15 – September 30, 2010

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced there will be a statewide burn ban on all DNR-protected lands July 15, 2010, through September 30, 2010. This means all forestlands in Washington except for federal lands.

“The threat of wildfires from escaped outdoor burning is high during the summer months due to unusual fire danger,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark. “Wildfires are dangerous for people and property and result in large expenditures of public funding that can be avoided through prudent actions to prevent them.”

The ban applies to all outdoor burning, including currently permitted burns, with the following exceptions:

1. Recreational fires in approved fire pits within designated state, county, municipal or other campgrounds, or
2. DNR-approved prescribed fire, implemented to enhance or restore fire-dependent ecosystems and forest health, when enhancement and restoration by prescribed fire can only be accomplished successfully during the period of time from July 15th, 2010, through September 30th, 2010, or
3. As approved in writing by DNR when there are compelling reasons for an exception.

The use of gas and propane self-contained stoves and barbeques will continue to be allowed under the ban.

This burn ban takes precedence over and supersedes all other burn bans currently in effect on forestlands except federal lands.

Media Contact: Janet Pearce, Communications and Outreach, 360-902-1122, janet.pearce@dnr.wa.gov

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We would like to extend our gratitude and appreciation to those who cooperated with this curtailment.  SWCAA is sensitive to the hardship this Stage 1 Burn Ban may have placed on people in these times of increased economic burden.  Thank you – we cannot do this without your help.

Due to Cowlitz County’s varying topography, some localized areas may experience windy conditions while others remain stagnant and inundated with smoke. This countywide Stage 1 Burn Ban will remain in effect until our monitors show demonstrated improvement in our air quality and weather forecasts indicate improved ventilation.

If air quality continues to deteriorate, SWCAA may have to issue a Stage 2 Burn Ban which would prohibit all wood burning, including fireplaces, certified wood stoves, inserts and pellet stoves. This does exclude homes where wood burning is the sole source of heat.

“We are hopeful that calling this Stage 1 curtailment will prevent us from exceeding the federal health-based standard for fine particle pollution,” said Bob Elliott, executive director of the agency. “Wood smoke is a nuisance and a public health hazard,” Elliott continued, “so reducing wood smoke where feasible benefits everyone. We are not asking anyone to go without heat, but to use an alternative source of heat if possible until our air quality improves.”

On cold nights with little or no wind, wood smoke pollution can accumulate to levels that are considered unhealthy. Fine particles released by smoke from wood stoves, fireplaces and other burning are of concern because they can reach deep into the lungs. Episodes of high fine particle pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing and make lung and heart problems worse.

These curtailments occur in two progressive stages as needed:

Stage 1: The use of all fireplaces and uncertified wood stoves and inserts is banned when pollution is forecasted to reach unhealthy levels. Uncertified units are typically older than 1990 and lack a certification label on the back of the unit. Certified wood stoves and inserts are allowed during a Stage 1 Burn Ban.

Stage 2: All wood heating is prohibited, including certified units, when the Stage 1 curtailment has not reversed the increasing pollution trend and weather conditions still indicate a high risk for exceeding air quality health standards.

These curtailments will not apply to homes with no other source of adequate heat. All outdoor burning is also banned during these burn bans.

To sign up to receive e-mail notifications of these wood stove curtailment burn bans, visit www.swcleanair.org.

Tips for Cleaner Burning:

The most complete and effective way to reduce wood smoke pollution is to use another form of heat. If you must use wood, or choose to do so when local rules permit, the following recommendations can help diminish the emissions from your wood stove, fireplace or fireplace insert:

• Only burn dry, seasoned wood. Be sure your firewood has been split and dried for at least one year.
• Never burn wet, painted, stained or treated wood, color newsprint, plastic, garbage, diapers or magazines. Items such as these produce high amounts of odor, smoke and toxic fumes. Burning these materials is illegal and also an excellent way to start a chimney fire.
• Store your firewood under cover. A shed or shelter is best. If you use a plastic tarp, allow ventilation to prevent condensation.
• Burn small, hot fires. This helps the wood burn completely and cleanly.
• Never allow the fire to smolder. Smoldering fires are the worst polluters because they burn at a temperature too low for efficient combustion. The result is more smoke—unburned wood going up the chimney, wasted.
• Do not damper too much. Allow enough air for the wood to burn fully, without smoldering. Never try to keep the fire going overnight by cutting back the air supply. This wastes wood, produces much smoke and creosote and produces little heat.
• Step outside and look at the plume from your chimney. You should see only heat waves. If you can see smoke, your wood is not burning completely. Increase the air supply to your fire.
• Size your wood stove properly. A stove that is too large for the space to be heated will have to be damped down, causing much smoke and wasting wood.
• Do not burn in moderate temperatures. Your stove will tend to overheat your house. You will want to close the dampers to cut back on the heat, which cuts oxygen to the fire, wastes wood and increases pollution.
• Don’t install a wood stove until you have considered other ways to cut heating costs. Insulating and weather stripping can cost less than a stove and will reduce your heating requirements, whether your heat sources is wood, oil, gas or electricity.
• Don’t install an uncertified stove—installation of uncertified stoves is illegal. These stoves are more polluting.

For more information, visit www.swcleanair.org.

Quick Links:

Maps:

• Map of the Longview/Kelso No Burn Area (PDF)
• Map of the Castle Rock No Burn Area Effective January 1, 2007 (PDF)
• Map of the Woodland No Burn Area Effective January 1, 2007 (PDF)
• Description of the Longview/Kelso No Burn Area Boundary (PDF)

Permits:

• Residential Burn Permit (PDF) – only valid outside the No Burn Areas
• Land Clearing Burn Permit Application (Word format) – only valid outside the No Burn Areas
• Land Clearing Burn Permit Application (PDF) – only valid outside the No Burn Areas

Burn Barrel Use Prohibited
The use of a burn barrel was banned in the State of Washington effective April 13, 2000. Burning garbage has been illegal in the State of Washington since 1967.

Recreational Fires
Recreational fires under 3′x3′x2′ are still allowed in all of Cowlitz County without a permit. Only charcoal or seasoned firewood (no lumber) may be used as fuel for a recreational fire. Recreational fires must be used solely for recreational purposes and may not be used for disposal of yard debris or any other material. Recreational fires may not cause a smoke or odor nuisance to surrounding properties and may be subject to seasonal fire safety burn bans. Recreational fires larger than 3′x3′x2′ inside no burn areas need a written permit from the Southwest Clean Air Agency (SWCAA).

Residential Burning (Outside the no-burn boundaries)
As of January 1, 2007 residential burning will no longer be allowed in the urban growth areas of Castle Rock and Woodland. Residential burning is already banned within the Longview/Kelso No Burn Area. Outside of these areas, single piles under 4′x4′x3′ do not need a permit to burn during daylight hours (natural vegetation only). For a list of general requirements or to determine if you are outside of the no burn areas, call SWCAA at 1-800-633-0709.

Piles larger than 4′x4′x3′ but smaller than 10′x10′x6′ outside the no burn areas need a written permit. These free permits can be picked up at local fire stations, mailed to you by calling SWCAA at 1-800-633-0709, or you can download a copy here in Adobe PDF format.

Land Clearing Burning (Outside the no-burn boundaries)
Prior to January 1, 2007, land clearing burning is only allowed outside the Longview/Kelso no burn area. As of January 1, 2007 land clearing burning will also be banned within the urban growth areas of Castle Rock and Woodland, and all other high density areas.

Outside the no burn areas, burn piles larger than 10′x10′x6′ require a land clearing burn permit from SWCAA. The burn permit application can be downloaded in Word format or PDF, printed out and then mailed, faxed or hand-delivered to SWCAA. A site visit is no longer required so a permit can be issued same day with a visit to SWCAA’s office in Vancouver. The permit fee of $100 must be paid to SWCAA prior to issuance of the permit.

Fire Safety Burn Bans
An annual Fire Safety Burn Ban from July 15 through September 30 prohibits residential and land clearing burning throughout Cowlitz County to protect public safety. This Fire Safety Burn Ban may extend beyond these dates by fire marshal recommendation. Outdoor burning is prohibited within the permanent No Burn Areas year-round, regardless of the Fire Safety Burn Ban. The pre-designated Fire Safety Burn Ban and aggressive complaint and enforcement program are designed to promote clean air, good health and reduced fire danger for everyone.

Agricultural Burning
To qualify for agricultural burning inside the no-burn boundaries you must have filed a “Schedule F” with your federal income tax. Orchard prunings alone do not qualify for an agricultural burn and other restrictions apply (WAC 173-430). Call SWCAA for detailed information, forms and possible fees. For more information about this program, click here.

Silvicultural Burning
For all silvicultural/forest practice burning call the Pacific Cascades Region of the Department of Natural Resources at 360-577-2025. There is a permit fee.

Areas Where Burning is Not Allowed

WAC 173-425 prohibits outdoor burning in cities with a population of greater than 10,000 and their Urban Growth Areas. Prohibitions also apply to adjacent areas with a population density of one thousand or more persons per square mile and areas with a reasonable alternative to burning. As of January 1, 2007 urban growth areas for incorporated cities with populations less than 5,000 also become no burn areas.

Burning was permanently banned, with the exception of recreational fires under 3′x3′x2′, within the Expanded No Burn Area of Longview/Kelso on January 1, 2001. To find out if you area is within the Longview-Kelso No Burn Area, please refer to this map, the description of the Longview/Kelso Expanded No-Burn Area Boundary or call SWCAA at 1-800-633-0709.

As of January 1, 2007 Castle Rock, Woodland and their surrounding urban growth areas will become no burn areas with the exception of recreational fires under 3′x3′x2′ (no lumber, yard debris or garbage). For a map of the Castle Rock No Burn Area, click here. For a map of the Woodland No Burn Area, click here. Land clearing burning will be prohibited in all areas of the state with a population density of more than 1,000 people per square mile as of January 1, 2007. For more information, call SWCAA at 1-800-633-0709.

Current Level =

WAC 173-425 bans the use of a burn barrel and prohibits the burning of all material, except natural vegetation grown on the property and firewood (defined as bare, untreated wood, not dimensional lumber). This regulation also prohibits burning during periods of impaired air quality and prohibits outdoor burning from becoming a nuisance to surrounding neighbors and businesses. Fire safety burn-bans may also be called by county or local fire protection authorities.

Quick Links:

Maps:

• Map of the Longview/Kelso No Burn Area (PDF)
• Map of the Castle Rock No Burn Area Effective January 1, 2007 (PDF)
• Map of the Woodland No Burn Area Effective January 1, 2007 (PDF)
• Description of the Longview/Kelso No Burn Area Boundary (PDF)

Permits:

• Residential Burn Permit (PDF) – only valid outside the No Burn Areas
• Land Clearing Burn Permit Application (Word format) – only valid outside the No Burn Areas
• Land Clearing Burn Permit Application (PDF) – only valid outside the No Burn Areas

Burn Barrel Use Prohibited
The use of a burn barrel was banned in the State of Washington effective April 13, 2000.Burning garbage has been illegal in the State of Washington since 1967.

Recreational Fires
Recreational fires under 3′x3′x2′ are still allowed in all of Cowlitz County without a permit. Only charcoal or seasoned firewood (no lumber) may be used as fuel for a recreational fire. Recreational fires must be used solely for recreational purposes and may not be used for disposal of yard debris or any other material. Recreational fires may not cause a smoke or odor nuisance to surrounding properties and may be subject to seasonal fire safety burn bans. Recreational fires larger than 3′x3′x2′ inside no burn areas need a written permit from the Southwest Clean Air Agency (SWCAA).

Residential Burning (Outside the no-burn boundaries)
As of January 1, 2007 residential burning will no longer be allowed in the urban growth areas of Castle Rock and Woodland. Residential burning is already banned within the Longview/Kelso No Burn Area. Outside of these areas, single piles under 4′x4′x3′ do not need a permit to burn during daylight hours (natural vegetation only). For a list of general requirements or to determine if you are outside of the no burn areas, call SWCAA at 1-800-633-0709.

Piles larger than 4′x4′x3′ but smaller than 10′x10′x6′ outside the no burn areas need a written permit. These free permits can be picked up at local fire stations, mailed to you by calling SWCAA at 1-800-633-0709, or you can download a copy here in Adobe PDF format.

Land Clearing Burning (Outside the no-burn boundaries)
Prior to January 1, 2007, land clearing burning is only allowed outside the Longview/Kelso no burn area. As of January 1, 2007 land clearing burning will also be banned within the urban growth areas of Castle Rock and Woodland, and all other high density areas.

Outside the no burn areas, burn piles larger than 10′x10′x6′ require a land clearing burn permit from SWCAA. The burn permit application can be downloaded in Word format or PDF, printed out and then mailed, faxed or hand-delivered to SWCAA. A site visit is no longer required so a permit can be issued same day with a visit to SWCAA’s office in Vancouver. The permit fee of $100 must be paid to SWCAA prior to issuance of the permit.

Fire Safety Burn Bans
An annual Fire Safety Burn Ban from July 15 through September 30 prohibits residential and land clearing burning throughout Cowlitz County to protect public safety. This Fire Safety Burn Ban may extend beyond these dates by fire marshal recommendation. Outdoor burning is prohibited within the permanent No Burn Areas year-round, regardless of the Fire Safety Burn Ban. The pre-designated Fire Safety Burn Ban and aggressive complaint and enforcement program are designed to promote clean air, good health and reduced fire danger for everyone.

Agricultural Burning
To qualify for agricultural burning inside the no-burn boundaries you must have filed a “Schedule F” with your federal income tax. Orchard prunings alone do not qualify for an agricultural burn and other restrictions apply (WAC 173-430). Call SWCAA for detailed information, forms and possible fees. For more information about this program, click here.

Silvicultural Burning
For all silvicultural/forest practice burning call the Pacific Cascades Region of the Department of Natural Resources at 360-577-2025. There is a permit fee.

Areas Where Burning is Not Allowed

WAC 173-425 prohibits outdoor burning in cities with a population of greater than 10,000 and their Urban Growth Areas. Prohibitions also apply to adjacent areas with a population density of one thousand or more persons per square mile and areas with a reasonable alternative to burning. As of January 1, 2007 urban growth areas for incorporated cities with populations less than 5,000 also become no burn areas.

Burning was permanently banned, with the exception of recreational fires under 3′x3′x2′, within the Expanded No Burn Area of Longview/Kelso on January 1, 2001. To find out if you area is within the Longview-Kelso No Burn Area, please refer to this map, the description of the Longview/Kelso Expanded No-Burn Area Boundary or call SWCAA at 1-800-633-0709.

As of January 1, 2007 Castle Rock, Woodland and their surrounding urban growth areas will become no burn areas with the exception of recreational fires under 3′x3′x2′ (no lumber, yard debris or garbage). For a map of the Castle Rock No Burn Area, click here. For a map of the Woodland No Burn Area, click here. Land clearing burning will be prohibited in all areas of the state with a population density of more than 1,000 people per square mile as of January 1, 2007. For more information, call SWCAA at 1-800-633-0709.

source

WAC 173-425 bans the use of a burn barrel and prohibits the burning of all material, except natural vegetation grown on the property and firewood (defined as bare, untreated wood, not dimensional lumber). This regulation also prohibits burning during periods of impaired air quality and prohibits outdoor burning from becoming a nuisance to surrounding neighbors and businesses. Fire safety burn-bans may also be called by county or local fire protection authorities.

Source