Within Pierce County Fire District #13, ONLY recreational fires are allowed for outdoor burning.

There are simple rules for recreational fires from the Pierce County Fire Marshal's Office that are designed to keep our community safe and healthy. Please follow these rules, but keep in mind that even if all rules are followed, a neighbor that complains about nuisance smoke will require that the fire be extinguished. Some of your neighbors just might have health issues that make them very susceptible to smoke particles, so they are just trying to keep themselves healthy. Here are the rules:

• Always check burn ban status to make sure that there are no air quality or fire safety burn bans in place. You will frequently see burn bans in place, but read all the conditions as recreational fires are still allowed in many, but not all cases.
• Pierce County Fire District #13 does not require nor issue permits for recreational fires.
• You may only burn in a designated burn pit or outdoor fireplace that is at least 25 feet from any structure.
• Only 3 fuels are allowed: dry seasoned firewood; charcoal briquettes; manufactured logs.
• The fire must be attended at all times by a competent person that has immediate access to put it out. Most people use a charged garden hose, but a 5-gallon bucket of water and/or shovels may suffice if you do not have convenient access to a garden hose.
• The maximum size for the fire is no more than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet high.

We frequently get this question, "Is my outdoor barbecue considered a recreational fire?" The answer is no. An approved device that is designed for cooking that is fueled by propane, charcoal briquettes, natural gas, or wood pellets is not considered a recreational fire. However, it is a great idea to still check burn ban status as there are rare circumstances when even your outdoor barbecue is too unsafe to use.

Let's all be careful out there and enjoy our great community!