The City of Moscow has officially begun the burning season for this fall, which will last from Oct. 16 to Dec. 13. Burning seasons have a wide range of benefits. It can be used to manage land, to reduce combustibles and help support ecosystems. Burning is an efficient type of nutrient cycling, where dead organic matter can be quickly returned to the soil. It also can create areas of different successional stages, which increases biodiversity. This season is only for garden waste, tree trimmings and brush. No written permit needs to be obtained to partake, but specific conditions must be met and followed, as listed below.
Burning piles, when three feet or less in diameter and two feet or less in height, must be kept a minimum of 25 feet away from structures and other combustible material. Any larger burning piles must be kept at a distance 50 feet or more.
Means of fire extinguishing, such as a garden house, must be kept on site of the burning. The person executing the burning must also be competent and in legal control of the burning location.
No burning is to be done on public land.
No waste burned can produce “toxic, dense or offensive odors,” as stated on the Moscow Chamber of Commerce page.
No burning may take place after dark, and the fire must be confirmed to be totally extinguished before leaving the location.
No burning may take place at construction or demolition sites.
There is to be no lot burning, the burning of leaves, grass trimmings or waste with paper products this season.
Not meeting these listed regulations will result in fines, in accordance with the City of Moscow code.
Burning can be ceased immediately if the Fire Chief determines the smoke is offensive to surrounding occupants, or if it is considered to create hazardous conditions. If the Department of Environmental Quality releases an air quality forecast and cautions a mandatory burn ban, the burning season will also end.
Maddie Wright can be reached at [email protected]