Small Debris Burn Permit

PERMIT MUST BE ON SITE AND READILY AVAILABLE

Conditions/Restrictions

1. Fire size limited to less than 10'x10'x5' or multiple fires not exceeding combined total of 100 sq. ft.
2. Burning conditions shall be obtained each day before starting to burn. This information line can be assessed by phoning 1-800-633-0709. 
3.  Do not light a fire in winds over 5 m.p.h. If winds exceed 7-10 m.p.h., the fire must be extinguished.
4. Burning is restricted to natural vegetation, which was grown on the property, except for the paper required to ignite the fire.
5. It is unlawful to burn treated wood, construction debris, household waste or garbage, dead animals, asphalt, petroleum products, paint, rubber products, plastic, or any substance which, when burned, releases toxic emissions, dense smoke or obnoxious odors.
6. Clearance from structures, property lines, forest slash and other combustible materials:
   a. Not less than twenty-five feet from piles sizes four feet by four feet or less.
   b. Not less than fifty feet for pile sizes greater than four feet by four feet.
   c. No debris fires are permitted in or within five hundred feet of forest slash without first obtaining a written permit from the governmental agency regulating such fires.
7. A person capable of extinguishing the fire shall attend it at all times.
   a. A sufficient water supply and shovel must be at the burning site and ready to use.
   b. Debris fires shall be conducted only during daylight hours.
8. If a debris fire creates a nuisance that unreasonably interferes with property use and enjoyment of adjacent property owners, it must be extinguished upon direction from fire control authorities and those designated under Skamania County Code Sec. 8.14.060.
9. No debris fire burning shall be done during a period of impaired air quality declared by Southwest Washington Clean Air Agency or during a emergency burn ban as described in SCC Sec. 8.14.040

Recreational fires must meet the Minimum Standard for a Fire Pit.

*The use of burn barrels is prohibited*

Burn barrels are especially bad because the fires burn at low temperatures. They receive very little oxygen and produce a lot of smoke that contains toxic substances. What’s worse is that almost all of the pollutants released into the air are close to the ground where they are easily inhaled. Click the link above for more information about burn barrels.