Burn ban lifted today across county

County fire departments will allow open burning again beginning today, according to the Kootenai County Fire Prevention Co-op.

The departments had closed burning indefinitely this spring in the wake of coronavirus concerns because smoke stresses respiratory systems.

In addition, departments were trying to reduce unnecessary contact between emergency responders and the public.

Pat Riley, president of the fire chiefs association, said his group was aware of the inconvenience the ban put on the public.

The ban contributed to local landfills seeing an uptick in customers this spring.

Riley cautioned against burning items such as plastic, rubber and synthetics that weren’t in compliance with Idaho’s Department of Environmental Quality restrictions.

What’s prohibited: burning garbage and most human-made substances, including hazardous wastes, paints or painted materials, tires, and trade wastes which emit hazardous pollutants into the air when they are burned, as well as dead animals and feces. The entire list is available on the DEQ website.

Burn permits are required for yard waste, burn barrels and slash piles and a 10-day burning permit is available at no cost from DEQ.

Residents who plan to burn should consult the Air Quality Hotline at 800-633-6247 for conditions prior to burning. Burning is only allowed under “air quality green.”

Recreational fires such as campfires, cooking fires, and fire pits are allowed without a permit.

Riley said fire departments do not respond to smoke and odor complaints associated with burning unless the burn is illegal or hazardous.