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 Outdoor Burning In Spokane County
To reduce the harmful effects of breathing smoky air, our state legislature called for the gradual reduction and elimination of outdoor burning across the state beginning in 1991. Now, outdoor burning—of natural vegetation only—is limited to areas that are less populated and have fewer commercially available alternatives to burning. Burning is not allowed in any of Spokane County's 13 incorporated cities, towns and their Urban Growth Areas.
NEW! August 20, 2008 - PROPOSED CHANGES TO OUTDOOR BURNING REGULATIONS IN SPOKANE COUNTY. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON PUBLIC COMMENT/PUBLIC HEARING
 Brochure Available
Spokane Clean Air and our partner, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have created a joint brochure on outdoor burning in Spokane County. The brochure provides detailed information on the three most common outdoor burning programs:
Residential Yard & Garden Debris, Recreational Fires, and Silvicultural Debris. Contact Spokane Clean Air for a free copy of this brochure, or click here to view/download the pdf file.
Alternatives to Burning
There are safer and healthier options available for handling or "disposing" of the natural vegatation generated on your property. These include chipping, composting and mulching. Some areas have pick-up services or collection containers. There are also transfer stations in our county where "clean green" can be dropped off for a reduced rate. Call the Recycling Hotline for more information, 625-6800.
Legal Burning
There are five “types” of outdoor burning allowed in Spokane County, listed below. The type of material you wish to burn and where you live, determine whether or not you can burn and under what specific conditions. The only material that can be legally burned in Washington state, under the programs listed below, is natural vegetation. Anything else (ie. construction debris, cardboard, paper, untreated/treated wood products, etc.) is illegal to burn.
Outdoor Wood-Fired Boilers
Know the facts before making an investment in outdoor wood-fired boilers. Click here for a detailed fact sheet on these devices. The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) has developed a web page that provides detailed information about outdoor wood-fired boilers, click here.
Health Effects of Burning
Natural vegetation, such as lawn clippings, leaves, and pine needles, produces toxic air pollutants when burned. When inhaled, these pollutants can have serious impacts on our lungs. Those at greatest risk are children, elderly, and those suffering from chronic respiratory conditions, such as asthma, emphysema and bronchitis.
Illegal Burning
Burning garbage has been prohibited in Spokane since the 1970s. The only material that may be burned legally in Washington (under specific guidelines and depending upon where you live) is unprocessed natural vegetation. In 2000, the state legislature banned burn barrels statewide. Therefore, even natural vegetation may not be burned in a burn barrel.
Smoke from burn barrels is noxious because the fires burn at low temperatures, receiving very little oxygen and producing excessive smoke and other toxic substances.
"Open burning of household waste in barrels is potentially one of the largest sources of airborne dioxin and furan emissions in the United States"- US EPA
Burn Bans
Once you’ve determined you are eligibility to burn natural vegetation, you must always call the Burning Information Line, 477-4710, before starting any fires. Current burning conditions are also on our website, click here. One of the most common air quality violations in Spokane County is illegal outdoor burning. Spokane Clean Air field inspectors closely monitor outdoor burning and strictly enforce the rules. Those individuals burning illegally are subject to civil penalties up to $10,000 per day, per violation.
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