Outdoor Burning

It’s spring! The time of year when lawns are mowed, shrubs and trees are pruned, and last year’s blooms are clipped to make way for new, green growth.

Yard-waste bins fill up and residents often seek other ways to dispose of their trimmings. Many people call the Edmonds Fire Department to ask if burning their yard waste outdoors is an option.

The answer is, “No.”

Outdoor burning within Edmonds city limits has been illegal since 1992, with only three exceptions:

• training fires for firefighters
• small cooking fires, such as barbeques, that burn only charcoal, natural gas, propane, or seasoned natural wood
• campfires at approved locations in state, county, and city campgrounds.

If someone calls 9-1-1 to report an “illegal burn” on your property, a fire engine will be dispatched and you will be asked to put out the fire on the first offense.

Air Quality

Both indoor and outdoor burning – of any kind – is restricted if an air-quality burn ban is in effect.

Contact Puget Sound Clean Air at 206-343-8800 or visit www.pscleanair.org to find out if they have called a burn ban or if you have questions about what can and cannot be burned indoors.