The Wilderness neighborhood is in the Thurston County Urban Growth Area (UGA). By state law RCW: 70A.15.5020, non-recreational burning is banned in UGAs therefore, burning of garbage or yard waste is prohibited. See below for definition of what “recreational burning” includes.
As one of seven local clean air agencies in Washington empowered by the Washington Clean Air Act (1967), the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) enforces federal, state, and local clean air regulations and laws.
According to the Department of Ecology the following types of burning is allowed in an Urban Growth Area.
- Barbecues. Burn only briquettes, propane, or dry, seasoned firewood.
- Campfires. Fire must not be bigger than 3 feet x 3 feet x 2 feet. Burn only dry, seasoned firewood. Your smoke cannot affect your neighbors.
- Burning tumbleweed. A burn permit may be required in communities with more than 250,000 people.
All homes in the Wilderness neighborhood are in the UGA so residential outdoor burning is banned but if you’d like to check for yourself, you can go to this link, enter your address and scroll down to the bottom section that shows Residential Outdoor Burning. There you’ll see whether or not your property is allowed to burn.
Wilderness Property Owners' Association 