Burning Conditions

Outdoor Burning Information

Residential Yard & Garden Debris Burning
Per state rule, eligible county residents have an eight day season to burn their yard and garden debris. The days for 2008 were April 4-7 and April 11-14. 

For more information about yard and garden debris burning in Spokane County, click here.  Burning trash, including paper waste, and use of burn barrels are prohibited statewide.

Outdoor Burn Bans - Spokane Clean Air and the Washington State Department of Ecology may issue bans on outdoor burning based on air quality. If a ban is issued by our agencies for Spokane County, it will appear here and on the Burn Info Line at 477-4710. 

Fire Protection Agencies and local officials may ban burning based on fire hazards. Check with your local fire protection agency for current burn restrictions in your area.

Silvicultural Burning
The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages silvicultural/forest debris. For information on silvicultural burning, contact DNR at (509) 684-7474

Agricultural Field Burning 
We receive numerous inquiries related to field burning that occurs in nearby counties. Below are websites with information on field burning in North Idaho and Washington.

• Idaho Smoke Management Program
  http://www.idahoag.us/agresource/SMP/public/Default.htm
• Idaho Agricultural Burning Hotlines
  http://www.deq.state.id.us/air/prog_issues/burning/agricultural_hotline.cfm
• Washington Agricultural Burning Homepage
  http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/aginfo/agricultural_homepage.htm
• Washington State University - Agricultural Burn Calls
  http://smokey.ce.wsu.edu/agricult.htm

Grass Burning: Rathdrum Prairie, North Idaho - To find out about field burning plans, go to www.idahoag.us and click on "environment" under "quick links." Then, click on "crop residue disposal" and go to "daily airshed info."  Or, call 1-800-345-1007 to get information, ask questions and/or submit complaints.

Indoor Wood Heating - "GREEN"  — NO RESTRICTIONS

Is your wood stove EPA-certified? Click here  for guidance.

Do you heat with an "old" wood stove?  If you currently heat with an old, non-EPA certified wood stove, you might qualify for a rebate off the purchase and installation cost of a new wood, gas or pellet device when you give up your old device. Click here for program details.

Would you like Burn Ban information emailed to you? We now offer a free email notifications on various topics, including daily air quality, burn ban information, regulation/rule changes, etc. Click here, then enter your email address, then select which topics you are interested in.

For rules related to wood heating, and tips to burn as cleanly as possible, click here.