Annual open burning permits can be obtained at the County Fire Station for property located within the fire district. Once a burning permit is issued, you must call the Othello Police Dept. at 488-3314 before starting the fire. The permit is only valid during daylight hours, and occasionally there are burning bans, at which times, you will not be able to start any fires. There may be times that adverse weather conditions prohibit open burning also. Only dry material that will burn quickly may be burned with a valid burning permit. The following are a list of some of the material that can not be burned: dead animals, paints, asphalt, petroleum and rubber products, plastics or any substance which emits dense smoke or obnoxious odors. No burning is allowed within 25 feet of any combustible wall or structures, and a 10-foot wide firebreak shall be provided around all open burns. The permittee shall comply with the terms and conditions of the permit and there shall be a responsible person in charge of the fire at all times, who shall maintain the fire under control, not permit it to spread to other property or structures, and extinguish the fire, when the authorized burning is completed or when directed by department personnel. The possession of this permit shall not relieve the permittee from liability for damages resulting from the fire.

If a person starts a fire without a permit, or if a permit holder fails to comply with any of the provisions of a burning permit, and as a result of that failure, the Fire District is required to suppress a fire, the permit holder or person that started or caused the fire is liable to the District to reimburse it for the costs of the fire suppression services, pursuant to RCW 52.12.104 through 52.12.108.