South Cle Elum Fire Department, Assoc.

10/11/2025

As of today (10/11), the Town of South Cle Elum is lifting our burn ban to coincide with the Kittitas County Fire Marshall lifting the ban for the county.

What does this mean for South Cle Elum?

Recreational fires are now allowed inside the town limits, though they do need to be in a contained fire ring/pit and only seasoned/dry firewood should be burned when having a fire (think hot dog and smores fires). No burning of yard waste, pine needles/pine cones, milled lumber, treated lumber, garbage, or other materials are allowed per the Dept. of Ecology.

As a reminder, still use caution when having a fire as the wetter weather recently is not a guarantee that an incident can’t or won’t happen. Use caution with fires on excessively windy days and be mindful of excessive smoke from a fire becoming a nuisance for neighbors.

Thank you and enjoy your recreational fires!!

08/19/2025

07/01/2025

South Cle Elum FD grieves for and supports the responders, families, and the first responder agencies affected by the terrible attack on the firefighters in Kootenai County, Idaho yesterday. Fire Departments are around to help and serve our citizens on their worst days and in times of need, and it is devastating to see a senseless attack like this occur.

07/01/2025

Why Is There A Professional Fireworks Display This Year?

A fair question — here’s the answer:

✅ The professional fireworks display is carefully planned and permitted under strict safety guidelines that are very different from personal fireworks use.

Here’s what makes it safe(r) and allowed:
- Approved by City Council
- Organized by professionals licensed and insured to handle pyrotechnics
- Coordinated with Cle Elum Fire, Police, Public Works, and EMS
- Pre-event safety work includes clearing the site, securing a staging area, and planning fire response
- CEFD and our interagency partners are on standby and positioned to act immediately if needed
- Show is subject to cancellation at ANY time by Fire Chief Ed Mills if conditions are unsafe—even minutes before showtime

🚫 Personal fireworks, on the other hand, are uncontrolled, unmonitored, and often used in unsafe areas—posing serious wildfire risk. That’s why they’re banned.

🎇 The professional show gives the community a safe alternative and a chance to celebrate without risking lives, property, or the environment.

📘 For more information on the Cle Elum City Code regarding fireworks, and the Kittitas County Fire Marshal burn ban (including fireworks), please visit:
👉 City of Cle Elum: https://cleelum.municipal.codes/CEMC/8.28
👉 Kittitas County Fire Marshal: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1132274315603869&set=a.303184911846151
https://www.co.kittitas.wa.us/cds/firemarshal/default.aspx

We appreciate everyone’s concern and cooperation — our top priority is always public and firefighter safety.

— Cle Elum Fire Department 🚒

07/01/2025

Due to heat, projected weather, and fire damger, South Cle Elum will be placing a burn ban in effect to begin on 7/1/2025 at 00:01. During the burn ban there will be no open burning allowed in the Town of South Cle Elum.

Use of grills/bbq’s that use propane/gas, charcoal briquettes, or pellets are allowed during the burn ban, as well as use of home recreational propane fire pits. If you are using your grill/bbq this summer, please remember to properly dispose of any briquettes and ensure you have at least 5-10’ of space between your grill and any structure when it is in use.

Also as a reminder with the 4th of July coming up next weekend, fireworks are not allowed in South Cle Elum per Town Ordinance. There is a public fireworks show planned for the evening of July 4th at the Kiwanis baseball fields in Cle Elum for all to enjoy and should be visible from many homes in South Cle Elum.

Thank you and we hope you have a great Independence Day Holiday and a great summer!

09/20/2024

The County burn ban will be lifted as of 0001 Friday 9/20. This will include the Town of South Cle Elum burn ban as well.
Even though the burn ban is being lifted and the weather has been cooling down, please remember to use caution with any open flame. Also as a reminder, recreational fire pits with natural fire wood only are allowed in the South Cle Elum. Please refrain from burning any piles of leaves, pine needles, or other yard waste. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Fire Department at [email protected].

07/12/2024

It’s that time of year again!

Tonight at midnight (0000 hours), the Town of South Cle Elum will be going into a burn ban, along with the rest of the Upper County.
This will mean that open burning of yard waste, brush, leaves, recreational fires, and any other open flame burning is prohibited until the burn ban is lifted.

What will be allowed is the following:
Propane, pellet, or charcoal grills.
Propane/gas fire pits.

As always, with the heat and weather that we experience in summer, please be smart and use caution when using your grills or outdoor propane fire pits. Please be sure to dispose of charcoal briquettes properly and ensure the grills and fire pits are away from anything that they may be able to ignite.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email the South Cle Elum FD at [email protected]
You can also find more information on the burn bans for the Upper County at the Kittitas County Fire Marshal website:
www.co.kittitas.wa.us/cds/firemarshal/default.aspx

Thanks and have a great summer!!!

This is the home page for the Kittitas County Fire Marshal.

04/30/2024

This Saturday, May 4th, your South Cle Elum Firefighters will be teaming up with Red Cross to spread wildfire preparedness and fire wising information to residents in South Cle Elum.
The door-to-door event will go from 11am to 4pm with a goal of reaching 40 homes.

We will also have a team reaching out to residents to offer free smoke alarm installations for anyone who needs them!! Smoke alarms have been proven time and again to help save lives in the event of a fire and the Red Cross has paired with South Cle Elum FD to provide smoke alarms for residents of our community.

If you are interested in having us stop by your home for this event or you have any questions about what we will be doing, please feel free to contact the Fire Department on here via messenger, via email at [email protected], or stop by town hall during business hours.