Residents in the greater Kent area who reside in the attainment area may stop by any Kent Fire Department fire station, beginning today, and receive a permit allowing them to burn during the month of October.

In order to receive an outdoor burn permit, the resident must live within the attainment area designated by Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA). Residents living outside that area are prohibited from burning and cannot receive a permit. Areas where burning is not allowed include the cities of Kent and Covington and certain portions of unincorporated King County.

Contact the Kent Fire Department at 253-856-4300 to determine if your home is in the attainment area or stop by any Kent fire station.

With a permit, residents are allowed to burn natural vegetation growing on the property between Oct. 1 and Oct. 31.

According to the International Fire Codes, adopted by the state of Washington, and the PSCAA, the

resident must:

• Not allow the fire to exceed 4-feet in diameter and 3-feet in height.

• Locate fire at least 50 feet from any wood structure including fences and decks.

• Keep the permit at the location of the fire.

• Maintain a 30 foot fire break around the fire of either bare ground or green grass.

• Constantly supervise the fire.

• Have the means to extinguish the fire on hand (i.e. shovel, hose, or fire extinguisher).

• Not burn any material other than natural vegetation.

• Only burn during daylight hours.

• Not use a burn barrel, regardless of contents.

• Ensure that the smoke does not bother neighbors. Repeated complaints can result in cancellation of permit.

• Ensure that there are no burn bans in effect.

Call 911 to report illegal burning or if smoke from a fire becomes a nuisance.