WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — According to the Whatcom County Fire Marshal’s Office, burn restrictions in unincorporated areas of Whatcom County were reduced from Stage 2 to a Stage 1 ban at about 8am on Friday, September 11, 2026.
The reduction permits recreational fires due to an increase in fuel moisture levels, according to the release. All other outdoor burning, including yard debris and land clearing fires, remains prohibited.
According to the Fire Marshal’s Office, recreational fires must meet the following requirements:
- up to 3 feet by 3 feet of seasoned firewood or charcoal only
- enclosure 16 inches high, made of steel, masonry, or rockery
- 25 feet from structures, timber, and combustible material
- 15 feet of overhead clearance
- garden hose or 2 5-gallon buckets of water on site
- hand tools on site
- attended after dark until the fire is extinguished
- no burning when winds exceed 7mph
Violations of the restrictions carry a minimum fine of $250. Persons responsible for illegal fires that escape or require fire department suppression may face liability for suppression costs and criminal charges of reckless burning, according to the release.
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