Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater don’t allow campfires. That’s about to change
Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater are the only cities in Western Washington that don’t allow campfires, but that prohibition could soon be lifted under a rule change proposed by the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency.
In the late 1980s, urban Thurston County exceeded federal air quality standards because of a combination of things: car and truck emissions and industrial pollution, but also indoor and outdoor burning, ORCAA Executive Director Jeff Johnston told the Lacey City Council last Thursday, Dec. 8.
But over the years, residents have switched out their old wood stoves for newer ones, or shifted to electric heat pumps or natural gas furnaces. There also was legislation that banned the burning of yard debris in urban growth areas (it’s still allowed in unincorporated areas) and burn bans to address the buildup of particulate pollution.
As a result, the region has met air quality standards for 25 years, Johnston said.
So why make the rule change? Johnston said it’s about reducing confusion about what is or isn’t allowed. It also would align Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater with other cities in Western Washington, he said.
What would be allowed? A campfire no larger than 2 feet tall and 3 feet in diameter, burning only clean dry firewood or charcoal.
But there was one other reason for the rule change.
“It was the communication around some of the homeless camps that led us to question the rule,” Johnston acknowledged. “We could have clearer communication around it if we got rid of the ban on campfires, so we don’t have to think of this notion of ‘survival fires’ and people being upset because they see people burning in encampments, but they can’t do it in their backyard.”
Lacey City Council member Lenny Greenstein asked to hear from Lacey Fire District 3 Chief Steve Brooks because some Lacey fire commissioners have been concerned about the rule change, he said.
Brooks said his biggest concern is the messaging associated with the rule change “so there’s not confusion about what is or is not permissible.”
“Anytime you hear that something is allowed that wasn’t previously, it’s easy to miss the fine print,” he said.
If the rule is changed, Johnston said it would not overturn other rules that regulate fires, such as a building’s setback requirements, homeowner’s association rules or summertime burn bans.
ORCAA is accepting public comment on the proposed rule change. A public hearing before the ORCAA board is set for Jan. 11. The campfire ban could be lifted in February or March, if approved.
This story was originally published December 9, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
