Daily Burn Decision

The burn decision is made for agricultural and other outdoor burning that have permits from Ecology. For online information about burning, please see the Agricultural Burning page and the Outdoor Burning page.

How to find today's burn decision:

Burn decisions are found at two locations:

Call 1-800-406-5322
View the daily burn decision on the listserv

The Eastern Regional Office (ERO) in Spokane is responsible for the following counties: Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Walla Walla and Whitman. Call (509) 329-3400 for questions concerning these counties.

ERO listserv

The Central Regional Office (CRO) in Yakima is responsible for the following counties: Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Klickitat and Okanogan. Call (509) 575-2490 for questions concerning these counties.

CRO listserv

If you are not sure what burn zone you are in, look at the burn zone maps on our permitting page.

Special Burn Decision

Sometimes special conditions exist, and we call what is known as a "metered burn." This means that specific acreage is allowed to burn. Instructions for a metered burn will be given by the message at 1-800-406-5322 or through the listserv.

How We Make the Daily Burn Decision

Burn days are determined using many different tools including:

1. Meteorology

MM5 ventilation model
Wind direction and speed
Meteorologist consultation
For a complete list of meteorology tools used, see the weather and monitoring page.

2. Existing Air Quality

Monitoring data
Local observations
Complaints

3. Permitted Acreage

Acres available to be burned, by location
Special needs, for example, nearness to smoke sensitive areas, and wind direction

By burning only on days with good ventilation, people are less likely to smoke out neighbors and other people.