Home Owners
Klickitat County Burn Ban has been lifted as of October, 1st 2009
For information on how to protect your home and property during this wildland fire season please refer to FireWise.
Outdoor Burning Information
According to the Washington State Clean Air Act (RCW 70.94 and WAC 173-425, Outdoor Burning). "Outdoor burning means the combustion of material of any type in an open fire or in an outdoor container without providing for the control of combustion or the control of emission from the combustion." The Washington State Department of Ecology regulates all types of outdoor burning except silvicultural (forest land) burning which is regulated by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.
If you live outside the boundaries of the UGA, it is legal to burn natural vegetation, but there are alternatives to burning which you should consider.
Things you should know before you conduct outdoor burning:
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Where residential burning is allowed, the burn pile must be less than 4'x4'x4' and you may burn only one pile at a time.
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When and where burning is allowed, only unprocessed natural vegetation may be burned.
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Burn barrels are illegal!
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Your smoke must not impact your neighbors and you must put out your fire if it does.
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Do not leave your fire unattended.
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The fire should not include materials hauled from another property.
For further Information refer to the WA Department of Ecology's Air Quality Webpage.
Protecting Your Property
Maintain a Survivable Space - "Things You Can Do Today"
- Clean roof surfaces and gutters of pine needs, leaves, branches, etc., regularly to avoid accumulation of flammable materials.
- Remove portions of any tree extending within 10 feet of the flue opening of any stove or chimney.
- Maintain a screen constructed of non-flammable material over the flue opening of every chimney or stovepipe. Mesh openings of the screen should not exceed 1/2 inch.
- Landscape vegetation should be spaced so that fire can not be carried to the structure or surrounding vegetation.
- Remove branches from trees to height of 15 feet.
- A fuel break should be maintained around all structures.
- Dispose of stove or fireplace ashes and charcoal briquettes only after soaking them in a metal pail of water.
- Store gasoline in an approved safety can away from occupied buildings.
- Propane tanks should be far enough away from buildings for valves to be shut off in case of fire. Keep area clear of flammable vegetation.
- All combustibles such as firewood, picnic tables, boats, etc. should be kept away from structures.
- Garden hose should be connected to outlet.
- Addressing should be indicated at all intersections and on structures.
- All roads and driveways should be at least 16 feet in width.
- Have fire tools handy such as: ladder long enough to reach the roof, shovel, rake and bucket for water.
- Each home should have at least two different entrance and exit routes.
- Here is some information if you live in the Scenic Area.
Here are some valuable resources from the National Interagency Fire Coordination Center