Today the Whatcom County Fire Marshall removed one constraint from the current Burn Ban in effect for unincorporated areas of Whatcom County. This does not include land within the Ferndale city limits nor DNR-protected lands such as state parks and state forests.
Effective 8:00 AM, Monday August 31, 2015 Recreational Fires Will Be Allowed
Due to the increase in fuel moisture levels and recent rain, the Fire Marshal’s Office will begin to allow recreational fires again. The modified burning restrictions will be in effect beginning at 8:00 AM on Monday, August 31, 2015 for the unincorporated areas of Whatcom County.
It is important to note that all other outdoor burning is still banned, including yard debris and land clearing fires.
Residents in the Ferndale city limits are under the permanent Washington State burn ban that permanently prohibits land-clearing and residential burning of yard clippings and other vegetative debris in the city and adjacent urban growth areas. DNR-protected lands such as state parks and state forest land have a burn ban in place that currently prohibits campfires.
The Fire Marshall also included a reminder of how to set up a legal recreational fire (ie campfire):
Please remember as outdoor burning restrictions are reduced:
- Recreational fire requirements:
- Up to 3 feet by 3 feet of seasoned firewood or charcoal only
- Must have enclosure 16 inches high, made of steel or masonry / rockery
- 25 feet from structures, timber, and combustible material
- 15 feet of overhead clearance required
- Garden hose or (2) 5-gallon buckets of water at fire
- Hand tools required onsite
- Allowed after dark if attended until fire is out cold
- No burning when winds exceed 7 MPH
- Please use extreme caution! This amount of rain will dry up quickly when the weather warms up again in the coming days/weeks.
- Violations of these burn restrictions can result in a minimum $250.00 fine. In addition, if you have an illegal fire that escapes or needs to be extinguished by the fire department, you may be held financially responsible for fire suppression costs and may be criminally charged for Reckless Burning.