June 8, 2023
Fire officials in rural Skagit and Whatcom counties began fire safety burn bans at 8 a.m. Friday, June 9.
During periods of high fire danger and hot, dry conditions, county fire officials can call for bans on residential and land-clearing 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).
For more details on the local fire safety burn bans:
- Skagit County: https://www.skagitcounty.net/Departments/Home/press/060223.htm
- Whatcom County: https://www.whatcomcounty.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=3806
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/.