Due to warm weather conditions ahead and decreasing fuel moisture levels, the Whatcom County Fire Marshal’s Office will be enacting Stage 1 Burn restrictions on open burning in unincorporated Whatcom County starting at 5:00pm on Friday, June 25th, 2021.

All land clearing and yard debris burning must be discontinued at that time and all issued burn permits are suspended.

Violations of these burn restrictions may result in a minimum $250.00 fine. In addition, if you have a fire that escapes or needs to be extinguished by the fire department, you may be held financially responsible for fire suppression costs, as well as be criminally charged.

If your property lies within Whatcom County Fire Districts (WCFD) 5- Pt. Roberts, 11- Lummi Island, or 17- Sandy Point, you must check with those fire districts for outdoor burning restrictions and to obtain outdoor burning permits (when available).

If your property lies within, or you are visiting property that is fire protected by Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), or a federal parks or forest agency, you must contact those organizations about outdoor burning restrictions.

If you have any questions on open burning in unincorporated Whatcom County, please contact the Whatcom County Fire Marshal’s Office at 360-778-5900 or visit our website at: http://www.whatcomcounty.us/FireMarshal. Outdoor Burning Information Line: 360-778-5903.

SVCA RULES AND REGULATIONS:

1. 6 Complying with the State of Washington Outdoor Burning Regulations (WAC 173-425), the Northwest Air Pollution Authority (NWAPA), and Fire District 2 regulations: NO OUTDOOR BURNING is allowed in Sudden Valley except as provided in 1.6.3. (Further informational printouts regarding the WAC 173-425 and NWAPA are available at the Administration Office).
   1. 6.1 Definition:

“Fire fighting instruction fire” means fires for instruction in methods including, but not limited to, training to fight structural fires and forest fires.

“Land clearing burning” means outdoor burning of trees, stumps, shrubbery, or other natural vegetation from land clearing projects.

“Recreational fire” means cooking fires, campfires, and bonfires using charcoal or firewood that occur in designated areas or on private property for cooking or pleasure.

“Residential burning” means the outdoor burning of leaves, clippings, and other yard and gardening refuse originating on lands immediately adjacent and in close proximity to a human dwelling and burned on such lands by the property owner or his/her designee.

1. 6.2 Policy:

By reference, the provisions of WAC 173-425 are adopted. Consistent with policies for Urban Growth Areas in High Density Areas, no residential or land clearing burning are allowed.

1. 6.3 Exceptions:

The following types of outdoor burning are allowed:

• Recreational fires with a total fuel area ofless than three (3) feet in diameter and/or two (2) are permitted.
• Fire fighting instruction fires.
  1. 6.4 When a burn ban is in effect in Sudden Valley no outdoor frres except properly enclosed cooking fires using gas or charcoal as fuel will be permitted. All other outdoor fires (open flame, including recreational fires as described in 1.6.3) are prohibited for the duration of the burn ban.
• A burn ban will automatically go into effect in Sudden Valley if Whatcom County declares a burn ban.
• A burn ban may be declared in Sudden Valley by the Board President or the General Manager if a burn ban is put into effect by Skagit County or if conditions in Sudden Valley are deemed sufficiently hazardous as to require the ban.

• The existence of the bum ban will be publicized by all available means including gate signs, web site, Sudden Valley Views and community bulletin boards.
• A first violation of this rule will subject the violator to a fine of $250. Subsequent violations will be punishable by a fine of$500.