Burn bans

Air quality burn bans

Air quality burn bans are called by Ecology, local clean air agencies, and tribes to protect people's health. A burn ban limits wood stove use and outdoor burning.

Ecology calls burn bans only in counties with no local clean air agency. These counties are: Adams, Asotin, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, San Juan, Stevens, Walla Walla, and Whitman. Burn bans do not apply to homes with no other source of heat.

Current air quality burn bans

The map and tables below show burn bans called by Ecology. It also shows other burn bans we know about. Before you burn, check with your local clean air agency by clicking on your county on the map. Check for burn bans on Indian reservations.   NOTE:  Map is only updated on business days.

  Stage 1 Burn Ban (yellow)

• NO use of uncertified wood stoves or fireplaces (except when a wood stove is the only source of heat)
• NO outdoor, agricultural, or forest burning in:

  Stage 2 Burn Ban (red) = NO burning in:

Indian reservations

No open burning. Check for burn bans on Indian reservations.

Make a clean air fan

Learn how to make a low-cost clean air fan. This simple fan-filter combination can reduce the amount of the tiny, harmful particles you breathe from wood smoke, wildfire smoke, dust, vehicle exhaust, and pesticide spray. Use it in a small room, with the windows and doors closed.

Fire safety burn bans

Fire safety burn bans are called by the Washington Department of Natural Resources, local fire districts, and Tribes to protect people and property when wildfire danger is high. These burn bans limit outdoor, residential, agricultural, and forest burning.

If you live in an urban growth area, you may not be allowed to have an outdoor fire at any time. Find out about outdoor burning before lighting any fire.

Report illegal burning

Using a burn barrel is illegal.  Burning in an urban growth area is also illegal. Report illegal burning if you see it.

Law and rules about burn bans

• Limitations on burning wood for heat
• Criteria for impaired air quality burn bans
• Restrictions on operation of solid fuel burning devices