For most of the year, moist conditions and lack of wind make the Pacific Northwest a pretty safe place to burn your piles of landscape debris.
However, the summer season changes that situation, according to Tim Dawdy, division chief and public information officer for Clark County Fire & Rescue.
“It’s the time of year you really need to shift gears,” Dawdy said. “It’s the time of year when the wind will come up, and escaped fires start to crawl around.”
Dawdy pointed in particular to the winds that tend to come from the east, which bring hot temperatures and low humidity, conditions ripe for fires to take hold.
Because of this seasonal risk, Clark County institutes an annual burn ban from July 15 to Sept. 30 in unincorporated areas, said Clark County Fire Marshal Jon Dunaway.
All outdoor burning of yard debris or for land clearing purposes is illegal year-round within city limits and urban growth areas, according to the Southwest Clean Air Agency.
No permits for outdoor land clearing fires are issued during this period of time. Conditions are evaluated each year, and can be adjusted earlier or later as needed. This year, the standard beginning date of July 15 will be in effect.
A permit is required for any open burning if it’s not a recreational fire, Dunaway said. For fires less than 10 feet in diameter, a free permit is available at the Clark County website. The permit does not need to be submitted to the county, but simply signed and kept on hand to acknowledge the user has read and understands applicable rules.
The burn permit is printed with the phone number for the Southwest Clean Air Agency, which may issue additional burn bans throughout the year related to air quality.
Only natural vegetation grown on the property may be burned, and burn barrels are never permitted.
For a larger fire, it is necessary to apply for a permit at the Public Service Center at 1300 Franklin St., in Vancouver. An inspector will come to the site to take a look and discuss the planned burn before a permit is issued, Dunaway said.
Dunaway emphasized the safe practices that apply to all fires, including recreational fires. Be sure the fire is at least 25 feet from combustible material such as trees or buildings, and always attend the fire until it is completely out.
It can be necessary to check for fire spots even weeks after a fire, Dawdy said. The hot dry air from east winds can cause even a small ember to reignite. He advises extra caution with all fires under these conditions, including barbeque grills, cigarettes and backyard fire pits.
The role of Clark County Fire & Rescue is fire suppression and education, Dawdy said. He emphasized that even if a fire has been started illegally, it’s important to call for assistance if it spreads out of control.
“We don’t want people to be hesitant to call us,” he said. “There’s nothing to fear, we’re coming to help you. Call us right away.”
Burn permits are available online at https://www.clark.wa.gov/sites/all/files/community-development/fire/burnpermit.pdf, or at your local fire station.
Southwest Clean Air Agency maintains an online “burn map” that provides current information on burn bans http://www.swcleanair.org/burnmap.asp.
