By Hayden Yu Andersen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

With summer heat arriving, and short nights, fire pits are becoming increasingly common. However, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and accidentally cause trouble for neighbors, or even get hurt. A WSB reader suggested we spotlight the rules – so here’s what we found out.

Fortunately, the Seattle Fire Department and Puget Sound Clean Air Agency have put together a set of rules for outdoor fires.

Before we break down the rules, it’s important to check if there’s a burn ban in effect. Anyone caught burning while a burn ban is in effect may be ticketed, and even prosecuted, according to the Department of Natural Resources. (There has been a stage 1 burn ban in place since Monday for all of unincorporated King County, though that does not affect recreational fires.)

There are two types of common outdoor fires, the first of which is a recreational fire. According to the Seattle Fire Department’s Outdoor Regulations and Prohibitions guide, recreational fires are any fires “for cooking, pleasure, religious, ceremonial or similar purposes” where the fire is “not contained in an outdoor fireplace, grill or barbecue pit.”

If you’re planning to use a recreational fire, there are several things you have to consider. First, recreational fires must be located at least 25 feet away from any structure or combustible material, and any conditions that could cause the fire to spread should be removed before starting the fire.

Second, you must always have fire extinguishing tools on hand, including a shovel, buckets of water, and a hose or fire extinguisher. Finally, at least one adult should tend to the fire until it is completely extinguished.

(Using a 5-gallon bucket – available at most hardware stores – and sustainably sourced firewood for an outdoor fireplace)

The rules for what you can and can’t burn are the same regardless of what kind of fire pit you have. Any fires meant to dispose of debris or burn garbage are not considered recreational and therefore prohibited. Only charcoal, dried firewood, and manufactured firelogs are considered acceptable fuel sources, according to the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.

The second type of outdoor fire is one inside a portable outdoor fireplace. Again, according to SFD’s guide, these “may be constructed of steel, concrete, or clay and may or may not be equipped with a short chimney.”

(The reporter’s own portable outdoor fireplace, made of steel)

Two things set this type of fire apart from a recreational fire. First, you must abide by any instructions given by the manufacturer of the portable fireplace. Second, if you live in a single-family home or a duplex, there is no minimum distance requirement for placing your fire pit, though you should always exercise caution and common sense.

(Here’s another example- an outdoor portable grill. You’d have to follow the same rules on fuel, placement, and safety for a grill that you would for an outdoor fireplace)

The summer is the perfect time to get outside, socialize, and throw parties, but as neighbors, it’s important to be considerate, which also extends to fires. Any fire that sends excessive amounts of smoke into a neighbor’s property, causes any type of property damage, or causes a nuisance should be swiftly put out.

If regulations are not being followed, the Seattle Fire Department can immediately extinguish a burn if it constitutes a fire hazard, and fines for illegal fires often start at $2,000, in addition to the cost required for SFD to extinguish the burn.

For more information about fire safety, including a full list of prohibited fuel sources and additional information about outdoor fires, check out SFD’s full Outdoor Regulations and Prohibitions guide.