Report burning and air quality issues

Have the following information ready

Before you file a complaint, have as much of the following information ready. These details will help us review and follow up on your report.

• Your name and phone number (in case we need more information)
  We accept anonymous complaints, but other agencies may not.
• Date and time of burning
• The town and county you're reporting (see the map of clean air agencies)
• Specific location of smoke (if known)
• Source of smoke (if known)
• Land owner and/or burner (if known)
• A detailed description of the complaint, including what is being burned

When and what you can burn

Know the rules before you burn!

• ​Before you burn, always check for a burn ban.
• When burning is allowed, smoke must not impact your neighbors. If it does, you must put out the fire.
• Burn only materials that are legal to burn.
• Burning in a burn barrel is illegal in Washington.
• Outdoor burning is illegal in all urban growth areas. Outside of urban growth areas, yard waste (like leaves, grass, brush, and other yard trimmings) may be burned as long as smoke doesn't impact neighbors. Consider alternatives to burning.
• Agricultural burning to clear land, remove crop residue, or control pests requires a permit. Smoke from agricultural burning must not bother other people or put their health at risk.

Why outdoor burning is a problem

Smoke from outdoor burning makes the air unhealthy to breathe. Breathing smoke from burning leaves, grass, brush, or tree needles can cause serious health problems, including asthma attacks, lung disease, and even cancer — similar to the harm caused by cigarette smoke. Children, people 65 and older, and those with breathing problems are affected the most by unhealthy air.

Backyard fires can get out of control fast and turn into wildfires. If that happens, you may be responsible for the cost of putting out the fire, which can be expensive and dangerous.

Smoke particles don't just stay in the air. They can settle into water and soil, causing pollution there too.

Smoke from outdoor burning is harmful to your health and the environment. The safest choice for you, your family, and your neighbors is not to burn.