Fire Danger Prompts Fire-Safety Burn Ban in Snohomish County

A county-wide burn ban has been declared by the King County Fire Marshal in conjunction with Kitsap, Pierce, Snohomish and Thurston counties. 

This fire-safety burn ban is prompted by forecasts calling for continued dry weather, and will last until Sept. 1.

The ban is different than one Puget Sound Clean Air Agency declares for unhealthful air quality.

A fire safety burn ban that the King County Fire Marshal imposes applies to areas outside the jurisdiction of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is the air quality authority for the greater Puget Sound area and restricts burning in more urban, densely populated areas.

The Phase 1 fire-safety burn ban applies to all outdoor burning except for small recreational fires in established fire pits at approved camp grounds or private property with the owner’s permission. These fires must:

• Be built in a metal or concrete fire pit, such as those typically found in designated campgrounds; and not be used as debris disposal
• Grow no larger than three feet in diameter
• Be located in a clear spot free from any vegetation for at least 10 feet in a horizontal direction, including at least 25 feet away from any structure and allow 20-foot vertical clearance from overhanging branches
• Be attended at all times by an alert individual and equipment capable of extinguishing the fire shall be in constant attendance at the site while burning.