Keep your Campfires Clean!
Best practices for controlling smoke and being a good neighbor
When enjoying a backyard recreational fire, also known as a ‘campfire’, please make sure you follow this best practices:
- Burn only clean, dry firewood or charcoal
- Dry fuels burn hot, cleanly, and completely.
- Choose good quality firewood such as fir, hemlock, cedar, maple, oak, and other hardwoods.
- Avoid ‘soft’ wood like cottonwood and any rotting logs.
- Avoid burning wet wood – moisture cools the fire and creates more smoke.
You are responsible for your smoke!
Creating ‘nuisance smoke’ is illegal and may result in fines.
Keep your fire small and HOT!
- A hot fire minimizes smoke.
- Place your firewood into the fire carefully to keep the base ‘open’ for good air flow – more air in the base means less smoke out the top.
- Don’t overfeed the fire. Add wood one piece at a time to avoid ‘choking’ the fire.
- A small fire is easy to manage and keep safe.
Trash burning is ILLEGAL
Burning trash of any kind is illegal AT ALL TIMES throughout the State of Washington. This includes any household trash, construction debris, and cardboard boxes. You may only burn paper as a fire-starting tool.
Be aware of your local wind and weather
Before lighting your fire, check where your smoke will go. If the wind will carry smoke toward your neighbor, don’t light the fire!
You are Responsible for your Smoke!
Creating ‘nuisance smoke’ is illegal and may result in fines.
