The Snohomish County Fire Marshal has announced a Stage 1 outdoor burning ban set to quickly go into effect starting July 1, going through August 31 of this year for unincorporated areas of the county, citing high fire danger conditions. According to a news release from Snohomish County, all residential burning is prohibited during this period, including for those who have previously obtained burning permits. However, the ban does make an exception for certain recreational and cooking fires within approved parameters.
The criteria for allowable recreational fires under the ban are strict and defined: they must be less than three feet in diameter and two feet high, used only for cooking or pleasure, and contained within the bounds of an approved fire pit, with the burning material kept below the top of the pit's enclosure. They are also not to be conducted within 25 feet of a structure or any combustible materials. Portable outdoor fireplaces can still be used, provided they are operated according to the manufacturer's instructions and placed at least 15 feet from structures or combustible materials. As reported by Snohomish County, conditions that could cause a fire to spread need to be eliminated before ignition, and the fire should be constantly monitored with a water source at hand.
This precautionary measure aligns with the potential implementations of "Red Flag Warnings," which indicate that wildfire combustion and rapid spread are highly probable within the following 24 hours, as per Snohomish County. In the face of such warnings, the county advises that all outdoor burning, including recreational fires, should be completely avoided.
Residents are urged to exercise extreme caution should they choose to have a recreational fire. The lingering risk of wildfires in the region remains a significant concern, and the slightest doubt about safety should lead to choosing not to burn. For updates or additional information regarding outdoor burning, the public has been advised to reach out to the Outdoor Burning Information Hotline at 425-388-3508.
