Residents who have yard waste to dispose of should look into clean alternatives to burning. Alternatives such as chipping and composting help keep our air clean and healthful. Those alternatives can also be used all summer, unlike burning.
Because of wildfire and public safety concerns in our wooded counties, seasonal burn bans take effect this month. Prohibitions on residential outdoor burning in Jefferson and Clallam Counties begin July 1 while Thurston County bans burning beginning July 15. These seasonal bans continue through the summer.
All Land Clearing Burns are also prohibited July 1 through Sept. 30 in all six counties within ORCAA’s jurisdicition (Clallam, Jefferson, Grays Harbor, Mason, Pacific and Thurston). The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) prohibiting burning on lands it manages statewide during that period, and ORCAA’s land clearing burn ban was called in support of that DNR fire-safety effort.
The restrictions on outdoor burning during the summer and early autumn has resulted in a significant drop in brush fires and property damage each of the past couple years, according to fire officials.
To stay up-to-date on the status of burn bans, please register for the ORCAA email news alerts on the ORCAA website (www.orcaa.org) or simply visit this site regularly for news and information our region’s air quality issues.
For statewide Burn Ban information, visit http://waburnbans.net
