News Flash

Open burning and recreational fires are ordered restricted within the municipal boundaries of the city of Liberty Lake until further notice, effective July 2, 2024, by an order of the City of Liberty Lake, the Spokane Valley Fire Department, and the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency.

What -NOT- allowed during this restriction on outdoor fires?  And what -IS- allowed?  CLICK HERE for a graphic from the Spokane Valley Fire Department that explains the burn restrictions.

Details from this current order are provided below:

OPEN BURNING IS DEFINED IN THE INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE AS “THE BURNING OF MATERIALS WHEREIN PRODUCTS OF COMBUSITION ARE EMITTED DIRECTLY INTO THE AMBIENT AIR WITHOUT PASSING THROUGH A STACK OR CHIMNEY FROM AN ENCLOSED CHAMBER.  OPEN BURNING DOES NOT INCLUDE ROAD FLARES, SMUDGE POTS AND SIMILAR DEVICES ASSOCIATED WITH SAFETY OR OCCUPATIONAL USES TYPICALLY CONSIDERED OPEN FLAMES OR RECREATIONAL FIRES.  FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS DEFINITION, A CHAMBER SHALL BE REGARDED AS ENCLOSED WHEN, DURING THE TIME COMBUSTION OCCURS, ONLY APERTURES, DUCTS, STACKS, FLUES, OR CHIMNEYS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE COMBUSTION AIR AND PERMIT THE ESCAPE OF EXHAUST GAS ARE OPEN,” (IFC 302).  AND:

RECREATIONAL FIRE IS DEFINED IN THE INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE AS “AN OUTDOOR FIRE BURNING MATERIALS OTHER THAN RUBBISH WHERE THE FUEL BEING BURNED IS NOT CONTAINED IN AN INCINERATOR, OUTDOOR FIREPLACE, BARBEQUE GRILL OR BARBEQUE PITS, AND HAS A TOTAL FUEL AREA OF THREE FEET (914MM) OR LESS IN DIAMETER AND TWO FEET (610 MM) OR LESS IN HEIGHT FOR PLEASURE, RELIGIOUS, CEREMONIAL, COOKING, WARMTH OR SIMILAR PURPOSE.” (IFC 302).

This Order is not intended to preclude the use of backyard barbeques, chimneas and other patio/deck warmers, as long as only approved fuel is used:   seasoned (clean and dry) firewood, briquettes, or propane. Disposal of vegetative waste in a recreational fire is prohibited.

This Order shall be complied with by the owner, operator, occupant or other persons responsible for the condition or violation to which the Notice and Order pertains (IFC 109.2).  Any person(s) conducting open burning who fails to take immediate action to extinguish or otherwise discontinue such burning when ordered or notified to do so shall be guilty of a misdemeanor which shall be punishable upon conviction by a fine of not more than $500 or by imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment for each offense.  Each day a violation is permitted to exist is a separate offense.   

Signed and executed this 2^nd day of July, 2024.

Mark McAvoy

City Administrator