To burn or not to burn, that is the question as spring cleaning nears
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To burn or not to burn, that is the question as spring cleaning nears
MATTAWA - As nicer weather greets us, we look around our homes and see that pile of brush and leaves we didn’t burn last fall.
Should we burn it?
Barbara Davis Wilson, Grant County Fire District No. 8 business manager/secretary, advises you give your fire district a call for the answer.
If it is a burn day, you must notify the fire district when, where, and what you plan to burn. On weekends, you may leave a message with your name, address, phone number, and material being burned.
If an Ecology recording is listed as “call in,” growers need to contact Ecology in Spokane at 509-329-3400 Mon-Fri from 8-5 to get scheduled for a burn decision. Afternoon calls are preferable. It is unlikely a grower will get permission the same day of the call, Davis Wilson said.
The Department of Ecology (Ecology) releases a daily burn decision for Ecology regulated eastern Washington counties. GCFD No. 8 posts a “Burn OK” or “No Burn” notice in the front window of the Mattawa Station during the week.
If you have a question about the daily burn decision, you may call the DOE at 800-406-5322 (option 2, then option 5) for DOE's decision. You may call GFCD8 at 932-4777 to get the latest information, which is usually available by 9 a.m. On weekends, call Ecology.
Outdoor burning is banned in all urban growth areas. If you live outside of an urban growth area, it is legal to burn natural vegetation.
Garbage burning and burn barrels are illegal everywhere. DOE asks you to consider exchanging your burn barrel for a compost bin.
Things to know before you burn:
• Burn barrels are illegal.
• Where residential burning is allowed, the burn pile must be smaller than 4'x4'x3'.
• You may burn only one pile at a time.
• You may burn only unprocessed natural vegetation.
• Your smoke must not impact your neighbors, and you must put out your fire if it does.
• Do not leave your fire unattended.
• The fire should not include materials hauled from another property.
• It is illegal to burn construction and demolition debris.
• Check with the Fire District for permit and safety requirements before you light any outdoor fire.