South Kitsap Fire and Rescue

ALL OUTDOOR FIRES

• A responsible person capable of extinguishing the fire must attend it at all times.
• A shovel and garden hose connected to a watter source and/or a bucket filled with at least 5 gallons of water must be on site.
• The pile must be situated at least 25' from any combustibles.
• The person responsible for the fire must check current outdoor burning information (see phone numbers below) before igniting the fire. An outdoor fire may not be ignited and must be extinguished if an air quality or fire danger burn ban is declared that applies to the type of burning being conducted.
• The fire must be extinguished immediately if: Any emission from the fire is detrimental to the health, safety or welfair of any person; if it causes damage to property or business; or if it causes a nuisance.
• Permission from the landowner or owner's designated representative must be obtained before igniting an outdoor fire.
• Only one pile at a time may be burned and each pile must be extinguished before another is ignited.
• This permit may be revoked at any time due to high winds or any other condition that constitutes a fire hazard.
• This permit must be kept on site at all times when burning is being conducted.

RECREATIONAL OUTDOOR FIRES (3'Lx3'Wx2'H)

• No permit required.Permissible countywide.
• Burn pile must be less than 3'Lx3'Wx2'H in a designated fire pit that is situated 25' away from any structures.
• Burn ONLY dry seasoned firewood or charcoal.

SMALL RESIDENTIAL OUTDOOR FIRES (4'Lx4'Wx3'H)

• Permissible only outside "no burn" zones. See map here.
• Permit is required and valid through the lasat day of the calendar year.
• Burn pile must not be larger than 4'Lx4'Wx3'H.
• The burn pile must be 10 times the diameter of the pile from any structure.
• No fire will be ignited before sunrise, and no material will be added to the fire after sunset.
• The fire may NOT contain any materials hauled from another property.
• Burn only natural vegetation such as leaves, clippings, or prunings.

LARGE RESIDENTIAL OUTDOOR FIRES (10'Lx10'Wx7'H)

• Permissible only outside "no burn" zones. See map here.  Permit is required and valid for 14 days.
• Burn pile must not be larger than 10'Lx10'Wx7'H.
• The burn pile must be 10 times the diameter of the pile (to a mazimum of 50 feet) from any structure.
• No fire will be ignited before sunrise, and no material will be added to the fire after sunset.
• The fire may NOT contain any materials hauled from another property.
• Burn only natural vegetation such as leaves, clippings, or prunings.

SPECIAL OUTDOOR FIRES

• Must be applied for in person at the fire agency serving the area where the fire is planned.
• Special conditions related to the approved special outdoor fire must be attached to this permit.

OVER 10' L x 10' W x 7' H PILES AND LAND CLEARING

Permanent ban on land-clearing burning in Kitsap County – Effective September 1, 2009, land-clearing burning will no longer be allowed in Kitsap County. This restriction is in addition to the existing ban on outdoor burning in urban growth areas and no-burn zones, and the current fire safety burn ban.

"Land-clearing burning" means outdoor burning of trees, stumps, shrubbery, or other natural vegetation from land clearing projects (i.e., projects that clear the land surface so it can be developed, used for a different purpose, or left unused). It does not include residential burning for maintaining a person’s property. Residential burning will still be allowed in rural areas subject to local fire restrictions.

“We’ve determined that there are reasonable alternatives to burning in Kitsap County, such as on-site chipping and removal, or off-site wood-waste recycling” says Jim Nolan, Director of Air Quality programs for the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. “And while there is a cost to developers for these alternatives, there is also a cost to properly manage burning. And most importantly, using alternatives reduces the impact and cost to public health.”

Wood smoke is composed of fine particles and a toxic mix of other carcinogens that are hazardous to human health. Fine particles are associated with serious health effects, as the tiny size of these pollutants allows them to be easily inhaled, bypassing the immune system and proceeding deep into your lungs, where they can cause lung and heart problems, including premature death.

This permanent ban, brought about by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, was adopted by the agency’s Board of Directors on April 23, 2009, following a public workshop, public comment period and public hearing. Prior to this action, land-clearing fires were prohibited only in the urbanized areas of Kitsap County.

The Clean Air Agency Board took similar action in February 2008 by adopting a permanent ban on land-clearing burning in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties which became effective July 1, 2008. For more information about this permanent ban, visit http://www.pscleanair.org/.

BURNING CONTAINERS

If an outdoor container is used for burning, it must be constructed of concrete or masonry with a completely enclosed combustion chamber and equipped with a permanently attached spark arrester constructed of iron, heavy wire mesh, or other noncombustible material with openings not larger than one-half inch. Steel burn barrels are illegal and shall not be used.

TO CHECK ON THE STATUS OF BURN BANS

South Kitsap Fire and Rescue: 360-871-2425            Puget Sound Clean Air Agency: 800-595-4341