City of Burien

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Stay cool and safe during the summer whether you are on the water, in your backyard, or staying indoors with the following helpful tips and resources. 

Extreme Heat

There are more than 700 preventable deaths from extreme heat in the United States every year. Getting overheated can make you sick.

• Find a nearby cooling center to escape the heat (Washington 2-1-1).
• Learn the warning signs of heat-related illness and what to do from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (English, Español).
• Find more tips for keeping cool in extreme heat from:
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (English, Español)
  • Ready.gov (English, Español, Tiếng Việt)
  • King County Emergency Management (English)
  • Public Health—Seattle & King County (English, Español PDF, Tiếng Việt PDF)
    • “Stay Safe in the Heat” mini comic book (English PDF, Español PDF, Tiếng Việt PDF)
  • Washington State Department of Health (English, Español, Tiếng Việt PDF)
  • King County Fire District #2 (English)
  • Regional Animal Services of King County: “Even on a mild day, the temperature inside a parked car can quickly rise to 100 degrees or more. Be kind and leave your pets at home in warm weather!” (English PDF)

Reduce Fire Risk

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the risk of fire danger increases during the summer season’s dry conditions and high temperatures due to fireworks use and lightning strikes.

In addition to fireworks, “many brush and other outside fires result from the misuse of heat of ignition, which includes abandoned and discarded materials, inadequate control of an open fire, and children playing with the heat source” according to FEMA.

• Discharge of fireworks is illegal in Burien. Learn more about the fireworks ban and how to report violations on our webpage.
• State law prohibits outdoor fires in areas like the city of Burien. Only some ceremonial and recreational fires are allowed, under certain conditions. King County Fire District #2 explains the rules around outdoor fires in Burien, and how to check if there is an active burn ban.
• According to King County, “Gas and propane stoves and barbecues are allowed under burn bans.”

Smoke Safety

According to the Washington State Department of Ecology, “smoke from wildfires, wood stoves, and outdoor burning causes poor air quality that can hurt your health.”

• If you have heart or lung problems caused by smoke, contact your health care provider. If symptoms are serious, call 911.
• Learn about symptoms caused by smoke, who is most at-risk, and how to protect yourself from the Washington State Department of Ecology.
• Monitor outdoor air quality with an interactive map from the Washington State Department of Ecology.
• Learn about the overlapping health impacts of COVID-19 and wildfire smoke, download interactive mobile apps, and see answers to frequently asked questions from Washington Department of Health (English, Español, Tiếng Việt PDF).

Grilling Safety

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), July is the peak month for grill fires. Before you light up the grill, check out these safety tips from NFPA:

• Access videos, downloadable fact sheets, infographics, and more on grilling safety.
• Learn how to reduce the risk of injuries or fire when cooking with portable grills.

Water Safety

According to Public Health—Seattle & King County, as more people were pushed toward outdoor activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, “King County saw drowning deaths [in 2020] double compared to 2018.” Cooling off on or in the water is a great way to avoid the summer heat and have fun, but be sure to stay safe – here are some helpful resources:

• The National Weather Service reminds us that “warm air doesn’t always mean warm water in lakes, streams or oceans.” Plunging into cold water can be dangerous if you’re not prepared.
• Find ways to stay safe on open water, on beaches, or in pools from Washington Department of Health.
• Get safety tips for swimming, boating, enjoying the backyard pool, and more from Public Health Seattle-King County.

Updated June 30, 2023