Outdoor burn ban explained

The CITY OF SPOKANE has an outdoor burning ban. Unauthorized open burning is prohibited within the City limits. Also banned is any burning of garbage, rubbish containing paper products, yard or construction waste, treated wood, and other prohibited material.





What is legal?

• Recreational fires (campfires, cooking fires) in designated areas or on private
  property (with permission from the owner) that are contained in an outdoor
  fireplace, barbecue grill or barbecue/fire pit.
  


• Backyard barbecues, chimineas and other patio/deck warmers, are considered
  recreational fires, and are also allowed year-round, except during a burn ban.
  


• Approved recreational fires can only use charcoal, natural gas,
  propane, or clean, dry seasoned firewood and cannot exceed 3’ in
  diameter and 2’ in height.

Safety requirements for allowing recreational fires are as follows:

• Fire extinguishing equipment (garden hoses, buckets, shovels, or a portable fire
  extinguisher) shall be available and ready for use.



• Supervision by a responsible adult, knowledgeable in the use of the fire extinguishing
  equipment must exist at all times until the fire has been extinguished.



• The size of the recreational fire is limited to a contained area not exceeding a total
  fuel area of 3’ in diameter or 2’ in height.



• Fires in approved containers must have a minimum distance clearance of 15’ and
  recreational fires must have a minimum distance clearance of 25’ from combustibles
  (i.e., overhead structures, wood, paper, cardboard, buildings, sheds, yard waste
  debris, etc.).

What is NOT legal?

• Any fire that is not contained in an outdoor fireplace, barbecue grill or pit is
  considered open burning and is illegal unless a special permit has been issued by the
  Fire Prevention Bureau.
  


• Fires used for debris disposal purposes are not allowed at anytime within
  City limits (even if someone throws a hotdog over it!).

An outdoor cooking fire shall be extinguished if any of the following conditions
exist:

• The fire is not on private property or approved by owner’s permission.



• The fire is not contained.



• Significant wind contributing to potential fire spread exists.



• Smoke generated from the fire is causing an excessive nuisance to neighbors. In
  other words, one cannot “smoke their neighbors out!”



• Inadequate clearance from combustible materials (i.e., wood, paper, cardboard,
  buildings, sheds, yard waste debris, etc.).



• Inadequate supervision by a responsible adult (constant attendance is required).



• Burning of prohibited material that normally releases toxic emissions, dense smoke
  or obnoxious odors when burned.



• Other prohibited materials are being burned (i.e., yard or construction waste,
  garbage, treated wood, plastics, rubber, etc.).



• Atmospheric conditions resulting in a no “green light” to burn according to Spokane
  Regional Clean Air Agency (SRCAA) formerly SCAPCA. SRCAA phone number is 477-
  4727.
  

Fire Officers are authorized to require the immediate discontinuance and extinguishment
of any fire that constitutes a hazardous condition or meets the previously listed
conditions.

Call the Fire Prevention Bureau at 625-7000 if you have any questions or comments
regarding this matter. Also, SRCAA information can be accessed by the following web
site: http://www.spokanecleanair.org/.