No Fire Safety Burn Ban in Effect for unicorporated King County

The following restrictions still apply to outdoor burning in unincorporated King County, even when there is no fire safety burn ban.

• Recreational Fires
  These are defined in state law as cooking fires, campfires and bonfires that occur in designated areas or on private property for cooking, pleasure or ceremonial purposes. These fires must be no larger than three feet in diameter and two feet high. You can use only charcoal, dried firewood or manufactured firelogs. Any other fuel is prohibited. Recreational fires are always prohibited during air-quality burn bans. Check with the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency to see what the current Burn Ban status is.
  Fires lit in chimneys, fire pits, fire bowls and similar free-standing devices, commonly sold at home-improvement stores and mass retailers, are also considered “recreational” and should also only use charcoal, dried firewood or manufactured firelogs (some brands make outdoor-specific firelogs).
  Other general requirements for a recreational fire, as stated in WAC 173-425-050(6) and IFC, section 307, state that:
• A person be capable of extinguishing the fire must attend it at all times and the fire must be extinguished before leaving it.
• No fires are to be within 25 feet of structures.
• Fires in an approved portable outdoor fireplace shall not be operated within 15 feet of a structure or combustible material and shall be used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
• Buckets, shovel, garden hose or a fire extinguisher with a minimum 4-A rating shall be readily available for use (IFC 307.5).
• Permission from a landowner, or owner’s designated representative, must be obtained before starting an outdoor fire. Outdoor fires may be prohibited during a fire-safety burn ban.
• It's always illegal to smoke out your neighbor.
  If smoke from your fire bothers your neighbors, damages their property or otherwise causes a nuisance, you must immediately put it out. If enforcement is required, you could be fined up to $13,000 per day
• It's always illegal to use a BURN BARREL.
• It's always illegal to burn prohibited materials.
  These materials include:
• Garbage or refuse
• Cardboard paper (except what is necessary to start the fire)
• Building materials, including paints, vinyl flooring, roofing, and scrap lumber
• Rubber products, including tires
• Plastics or petroleum products
• Dead animals
• Any other material that produces smoke that is offensive or harmful to your neighbors
• Fires to burn vegetation on residential property may only burn vegetation from the same property, and the fire can be no larger than 4x4x3 feet.
  • If you need to burn a larger debris pile please contact the fire department and apply for a "Burn Permit". These permits cost $25 and are good for 1 year from the date of issuance. Applications are avaliable online.

Do NOT burn when winds are faster than 10 mph.

For any additional questions please utilize the contact us feature and a member of the fire department will promptly reply to your inquiry.