Burn ban to start in unincorporated Whatcom County on July 1

The Whatcom County Fire Marshal’s Office is changing its approach to the fire ban this summer.

The fire marshal’s office announced June 10 that it would enact its stage one fire ban Monday, July 1 through at least September 14 for unincorporated Whatcom County. Typically, the fire marshal’s office institutes its fire ban based on weather models and data, but fire inspector Tiffany Honey said this year the office decided to follow other northwest Washington counties in setting a standard time period for the stage one burn ban.

The set timeframe for the burn ban will keep people better informed on the fire ban dates, Honey said. The start date is based on a decade of data and is an easy date for people to remember, she added.

“Get nice weather and people want to burn debris,” Honey said. “But when people don’t know we’re in a burn ban, it leads to escaped fire.”

The stage one burn ban will prohibit land clearing, yard debris burning and suspend burn permits. People who violate the burn ban are subject to a minimum $250 fine and/or other penalties, including being criminally charged if a fire escapes or needs to be extinguished by the fire department.

Recreational fires, such as camp fires, will still be allowed with the landowner’s permission but must meet certain requirements. The requirements are as follows:

• Must only contain seasoned firewood or charcoal; 

• Must be contained in an enclosure no larger than 3 feet by 3 feet across, and must be a minimum of 16 inches high, made of cement blocks, stones or steel;

• Beach fires (where allowed) can be dug into an 8-inch deep pit, surrounded by 4-inch high enclosure of rocks;

• Fires must be 25 feet from structures, timber and combustible materials;

• A charged garden hose or two 5-gallon buckets full of water to be next to the fire;

• A shovel or rake capable of stirring and extinguishing the fire to be on-site;

• Recreational fires are allowed after dark, if attended by someone 16 years or older at all times;

• Fires must be attended until out cold;

• No burning when winds exceed seven  mph.

“So far, it is looking like we could have a really early and active start to wildfire season but any amount of rain could change that,” Honey said.

The county fire marshal’s office will plan to enact a fire ban from July 1 through mid-September going forward, dependent on weather, Honey said. The September 14 end date could be extended if needed.

For more information on open burning in unincorporated Whatcom County, call the Whatcom County Fire Marshal’s Office at 360/778-5900 or visit whatcomcounty.us/firemarshal. People must phone the outdoor burning information line, 360/778-5903, every time they burn in Whatcom County.