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Local counties call off fire safety burn bans

Sep. 18, 2024

Sept. 18, 2024

Island County officials will call off fire safety burn bans in rural areas of Whatcom and Skagit counties at 8 a.m. Friday, Sept. 20.

Whatcom and Skagit counties already lifted their fire safety bans.

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 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).

Latest details about the fire safety burn bans:

Air quality information

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/.