August 17, 2023
Fire officials in rural Island, Skagit, and Whatcom counties are expanding fire safety burn bans to include recreational fires because of continued high fire danger and hot, dry conditions.
During periods of elevated fire dangers and dry conditions, county fire officials can call for bans on different types of burning in unincorporated areas.
The expanded Stage 2 fire safety burn ban includes recreational fires, such as campfires.
The Northwest Clean Air Agency does not issue fire safety burn bans. The agency can call air quality burn bans depending on the amount of smoke pollution in the air, such as when winds carry wildfire smoke into NWCAA’s jurisdiction (Island, Skagit, and Whatcom counties).
For the latest details on the local fire safety burn bans:
- Island County (effective 8/18): https://www.islandcountywa.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=36
- Skagit County (effective 8/17): https://www.skagitcounty.net/Departments/Home/press/081623.htm
- Whatcom County (effective 8/16): https://www.whatcomcounty.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=3945
Air quality information
- Local air quality information: Northwest Clean Air Agency.
- Statewide air quality monitoring: Washington Department of Ecology.
The Northwest Clean Air Agency is responsible for enforcing federal, state, and local air quality regulations in Island, Skagit, and Whatcom counties. In addition to permitting and regulating industrial sources of air pollution, the agency provides services and information related to asbestos, indoor air quality, outdoor burning, woodstoves, and fireplaces. More information about the agency is available at https://nwcleanairwa.gov/.