The burn ban in Whatcom County’s Columbia Valley urban growth area (including the Peaceful Valley and Paradise Lakes developments) has been elevated to Stage 2. Cold, stagnant air conditions are preventing harmful wood smoke from clearing out.
During this Stage 2 burn ban, all indoor burning is prohibited in any wood-burning fireplaces, woodstoves, fireplace inserts (certified or uncertified), or pellet stoves unless a woodstove is your only adequate source of heat.
No outdoor fires of any kind are allowed. This includes burning of yard waste, land clearing, agricultural burning, and forest burning, plus recreational fires in devices like backyard fire kettles, chimneys, and fire pits.
These burning limits will remain in effect until further notice. Check NWCAA’s website (https://nwcleanairwa.gov/) and NWCAA’s Facebook, X, Instagram, and Threads accounts for up-to-date information.
Burn ban violators could face fines and other enforcement actions. Remember that it is illegal to produce excess smoke that impacts your neighbors. It is always illegal to burn trash.
The burn ban is based on weather forecasts and current air pollution from small particles. Right now, air quality is predicted to be worse than the national health-based standard for at least 24 hours.
Tiny fine particles in wood smoke are a health threat because they can be inhaled deeply into lungs and damage delicate tissues.
Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing, and make lung and heart problems worse. Air pollution is especially harmful to children, people with heart and lung problems, and adults age 65 and older.
The Northwest Clean Air Agency is responsible for enforcing federal, state, and local air quality regulations in Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom counties. In addition to permitting and regulating industrial sources of air pollution, the agency provides services and information related to asbestos, outdoor burning, wood smoke and wildfire smoke, and air quality data. More information about the agency is available at https://nwcleanairwa.gov/.
