July 10, 2018

Modified burn ban takes effect July 13 for all of Skagit County

A modified burn ban for all residential and land clearing fires in unincorporated Skagit County will go into effect at noon Friday, July 13, and continue until further notice. Skagit County will no longer issue permits for these activities and existing permits are suspended.
                                                                                                 
Recreational and cooking fires, limited to 3 feet in diameter and two feet high remain allowed within enclosures and when safety precautions are followed. Recreational or cooking fires can consist only of charcoal, seasoned firewood or propane-fueled firepits and must meet the following requirements:

• Enclosures must be AT LEAST 16 inches high, no wider than 3 feet, and made of cement blocks, stones or #10 gauge steel
• Burned material must be kept BELOW the top of the enclosure
• ALWAYS have a charged garden hose OR two 5-gallon buckets of water OR a 5-gallon Class A fire extinguisher and shovel present
• Fires MUST BE 10 feet from combustibles, standing timber or overhanging tree branches
• Someone 16 years old or older must ALWAYS be present to monitor and/or extinguish the fire

If you are within the city limits of any of the incorporated cities or towns, check with your city fire department for current burning restrictions.

This ban does not pertain to agricultural burning permitted through the Northwest Clean Air Agency or silvicultural burning permitted through Washington State Department of Natural Resources.  For information on active permits, contact those agencies directly.

If you have any questions about open burning in Skagit County please contact the Skagit County Fire Marshal’s Office at 360-416-1840, or our website at www.skagitcounty.net/firemarshal.