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Countywide burn ban runs July 15 – Sept. 30 |
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A stage 1 burn ban will be in effect throughout Pierce County beginning at 8 a.m. on Thursday, July 15. It is scheduled to expire on Sept. 30. The ban is declared by the Pierce County Fire Prevention Bureau in cooperation with the Pierce County Fire Chiefs' Association and the Department of Natural Resources, and in conjunction with the fire marshals in King, Kitsap and Mason counties. The ban is prompted by forecasts calling for continued dry weather. The burn ban applies to all outdoor burning except for small recreational fires in established fire pits at approved camp grounds or private property with the owner's permission. The use of gas and propane self-contained stoves and barbeques will continue to be allowed under the ban. Note: Effective this year, a countywide burn ban will be implemented annually from July 15 through Sept. 30. This is being done in order to maintain consistency and increase awareness of fire safety during the hot, dry weather in the summer months. The defined dates do not preclude declaration of an earlier or longer ban, based on weather conditions for each year. Persons with approved DNR burn permits may call 1-800-323-BURN for information related totheir permits.
MEDIA CONTACTS: Wayne Wienholz, County Fire Marshal 253-798-7179 Sheri Badger, Department of Emergency Management 253-798-2204
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As of July 1, 2008 Land Clearing Permits are no longer available in Pierce County.
Permits are required for all outdoor burning - call 253-851-3111 for a verbal residential fire permit.
Puget Sound Clean Air 1-800-552-3565
Pierce County Fire District 5 253-851-0089
All outdoor burning requires a permit. This includes residential, outdoor, garden waste burning as well as land clearing activities.
Outdoor burning regulations are administered by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and follow the state Clean Air Act or Chapter 173-425 WAC. The fire district does not set these regulations, but must enforce them. Our responsibilities begin with a permitting process for all outdoor burning.
Two types of burn permits are issued by the local fire department.
In either case, no permit will be issued within the "no-burn" zones. The no-burn zones follow the boundaries described as the Urban Growth Area, which encompasses the City of Gig Harbor, and adjacent areas. You can call 851-3111 to verify if you are in a no-burning zone.
Residential Burning means the outdoor burning of leaves, clippings, pruning and other yard and gardening refuse originating on lands immediately adjacent and in close proximity to the human dwelling and burned on such lands by the property owner or his or her designee.
Residential Burning Permit Rules
Questions or complaints regarding outdoor burning should be addressed to Puget Sound Clean Air Agency at 1-800-552-3565 or you can research no-burn areas on their web site, www.pscleanair.org. Immediate health concerns or dangerous burning issues should be reported to the local fire department. Gig Harbor Peninsula (Pierce County Fire District 5) – 851-3111 and Key Peninsula (Pierce County Fire District 16) – 884-2222