WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — The Whatcom County Fire Marshal’s Office ordered a Stage 2 Burn Ban effective at 4pm today, Wednesday, August 16th. All outdoor burning is prohibited during this ban, including yard debris fires, land clearing fires and recreational fires.
Citing “increasingly dry weather conditions,” the burn ban restricts all open burning.
All open burning is prohibited in unincorporated Whatcom County until further notice. This ban is in conjunction with statewide outdoor burning restrictions enacted by DNR for all state-protected lands and the US Forest Service burn ban. Whatcom County Fire Marshal’s Office (August 16, 2023) Links added by Whatcom News
Still allowed are propane fire pits without solid wood burning material, along with propane and charcoal BBQs according to today’s announcement.
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Click for more informationWood burning fire pits or charcoal pits or similar enclosures with grates or screens are NOT considered barbecues and not allowed. The use of liquid gas fired stoves or BBQs or charcoal BBQs at private residents shall be over a non-flammable surface and at least five feet from flammable vegetation and structures. Whatcom County Fire Marshal’s Office (August 16, 2023)
Lummi Island and Sandy Point fire districts implemented Stage 2 Burn Bans in early July.
Whatcom County implemented at Stage 1 Burn Ban in early June.
Permanent Stage 1 Burn Bans (only recreational fires are allowed) are in place within the following incorporated cities and their urban growth areas (UGAs).
- City of Bellingham and surrounding UGAs
- City of Sumas and surrounding UGAs
- City of Lynden and surrounding UGAs
- Cities of Everson and Nooksack and surrounding UGAs
- City of Ferndale and surrounding UGAs
- City of Blaine and surrounding UGAs
- Urban growth area of Cherry Point
- Urban growth area of Columbia Valley
- Urban growth area of Birch Bay
UGAs are also under the jurisdiction of the Whatcom County Fire Marshal’s Office. So they are subject to the Stage 2 and 3 burn ban orders along with the rest of unincorporated Whatcom County.