Who decides when a Burn Ban should be implemented?
The Kittitas County Fire Marshal determines when it is appropriate to establish burn restrictions for the various zones in Kittitas County. Please visit the Kittitas County Fire Marshal for more information. For a list of all the districts and their burn ban information, please visit the Kittitas County Burn Ban site.
The WA Department of Ecology can implement burn bans to protect communities when the air quality is unhealthy. See the Department of Ecology Burn Ban site or call (800) 406-5322 for more information.
What do I need to know about Propane Safety?
Propane is a common fuel source in our community, but it must be maintained properly and safely. If your home has a propane furnace, water heater, range or other appliances, you should schedule a yearly inspection of your whole propane system. A qualified service person or gas supplier can provide a trained service technician to inspect your system for leaks and ensure all applicable safety standards are met. The technician can also inspect your tank, piping, regulators, gauges, connectors, valves, vents, thermostats, pilots, burners and appliance controls to make sure they are in good working condition. In case of snow, heavy snow and ice should be removed from regulators, regulator vents, piping, tubing and valves. Failure to do so can cause damage that could result in a gas leak. Appliance vents, chimneys and flues must be kept clear of snow and ice to allow proper venting. Snow and ice should be removed from walkways and tank area so that propane company personnel have ready access to your tank. For more information, see Chief Troy Jackson on Propane Safety.
What are the outdoor burning rules?
– Check to ensure that there is no county burn ban in place or an air quality burn ban. For Kittitas County, visit the County burn ban site. For air quality, please visit the DOE Burn Ban information page.
– Burn pile size shall be no greater than 4x4x3. If your burn pile size is larger than 4x4x3, you must call the Fire Chief at (509) 674-8007
– Only natural vegetation shall be burned. There is NO burning of garbage, trash, construction debris and any milled or dimensional lumber.
– No more than one pile shall be burned on any property at the same time.
– There is no outdoor burning when wind speeds or gusts exceed 10 mph
– The fire must be attended at all times with a water source readily available and fire extinguishing tools such as buckets, shovels, heavy equipment and fire extinguishers
– Burn pile must be on mineral ground and at least 25 feet from trees and brush
Who do I call if my neighbor is burning illegal items or burning during a burn ban?
Please call 911 if there is any question regarding a burn pile.
How does the Fire District access a private road with a gate?
Any gate on a private road in Kittitas County should have a locking mechanism such as a Knox Box that can be opened with a code or key. A Knox Box is a small safe that holds keys or electronic codes for emergency entrance. Any electronic codes should be give to Fire District 6 (call (509) 221-1212) and left in the key box. For more information, please visit the relevant code section at Kittitas County Code Fire and Life Safety.
Can I call the Fire District to fill my pool with water?
District 6 no longer provides this service.
Can I drive over a fire hose?
No! Never ever drive over a fire hose! The fire hose supplies water to firefighters. If the hose bursts, the firefighters are without water protection and they could be injured or killed.
How do I apply to be a Firefighter?
Visit our Volunteer page! Download and fill out the application. We would love to have you!
What is the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)? Does it affect me?
The WUI is an area known as the transition between unoccupied wildland and human development. Currently, all of unincorporated Kittitas County is considered WUI area. The Kittitas County Fire Marshall has developed plans to mitigate damage in the WUI area and reduce the risk of forest fires. These plans include construction and defensible space codes. Please visit the Kittitas County Wildland Urban Interface for more information.
What is a fire insurance rating?
A district or community’s fire insurance rating is a rating system that ranks a community’s fire protection system. The ranking ranges from 1 (best) to 10 (worst). The rating is provided by the Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau (WSRB). The WSRB ratings are one of the factors that determine insurance premium rates for homes and businesses. When evaluating fire departments, the WSRB considers the community’s water system, the apparatus and equipment capabilities, station locations, training, vehicle maintenance and much more. Having a strong fire department in a community may lower fire insurance premiums for homes and businesses.
Are Fire Commissioner meetings open to the public?
The District Fire Commissioners meet on the second Tuesday of each month. The meetings are open to the public. Please contact the district administration to obtain a meeting invitation.
Does Kittitas County offer Text-to-911?
Yes – As of December 1 2021, KITTCOM 911 now offers the Text-To-911 service. Please call 911 if you can, but text if you cannot.
• When texting to 911 for an emergency the first message should be the location of the emergency (including the city) and the type of the emergency. Text to 911 alone does not provide the dispatcher with location information like a voice call might – know your location.
• Keep text messages short, use full words.
• Text in English, interpretation services for text messages are not currently available.
• Do not use emojis.
• Stay with your phone and be prepared to answer questions and follow instructions from the 911 call receiver.
• Do not send photos or videos.