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The Snohomish County Fire Marshal announced a Stage 1 outdoor burning ban for the unincorporated areas of Snohomish County as of Monday, June 22. The Stage 1 burn ban suspends all residential open burning, even if a permit has been issued.
In addition to unincorporated Snohomish County, outdoor burning is also prohibited in the cities of Arlington, Brier, Edmonds, Everett, Granite Falls, Gold Bar, Index, Lake Stevens, Lynnwood, Marysville, Mill Creek, Monroe, Mountlake Terrace, Snohomish, Stanwood, Sultan and Woodway.
This restriction bans residential open burning except for recreational and cooking fires.
Recreational fires:
- Are less than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet high.
- Are used for cooking or pleasure within an approved fire pit.
- Contain burning material kept below the top of the fire pit enclosure.
- Shall not be conducted within 25 feet of a structure or combustible materials. Conditions which could cause a fire to spread within 25 feet of a structure shall be eliminated prior to ignition.
- Shall be monitored at all times.
- Must have a water source readily available. At a minimum, this means a charged water hose or a five-gallon bucket of water.
The ban will remain in effect through August and may be extended in the event of continuing high-fire danger conditions. If the burn ban is extended, a new release will be issued.
This is not a Red Flag Warning, but they are not uncommon in summer months. In the event of a “Red Flag Warning,” all outdoor burning is prohibited, including recreational fires.
A Red Flag Warning is a forecast warning issued by the National Weather Service in the United States to inform the public, firefighters and land management agencies that conditions are ideal for wildland fire combustion and rapid spread.
To the public, a Red Flag Warning means high fire danger with increased probability of a quickly spreading vegetation fire in the area within 24 hours.
In anticipation of dry weather conditions, the Fire Marshal’s Office urges the public to use great caution before lighting any recreational fires since wildfires are a significant risk across the region. If you have any doubts about safety, don’t burn. Contact the Outdoor Burning Information Hotline at 425-388-3508 for updated information.
For more information, visit the Snohomish County Fire Marshal’s Office.
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