A Stage 1 fire safety burn ban is active across unincorporated Whatcom County from June 15, 2026 through at least September 15, 2026, and the county has said it may extend that date depending on weather.1Whatcom County. Reminder – Stage 1 Burn Ban Beginning June 15, 2026 Under Stage 1, you cannot burn yard debris outdoors. Recreational fires in an approved enclosure are still allowed, and propane and charcoal barbecues are fine.
Before you light anything, check both the fire safety stage and the air quality stage. Whatcom County runs two separate burn ban systems, and you can be penalized under either one.
Two Burn Ban Systems Operate Independently
The Whatcom County Fire Marshal’s Office declares fire safety bans based on fuel moisture and weather. The Northwest Clean Air Agency declares air quality bans based on pollution levels. Both can be in effect at the same time, or one can apply while the other does not. Checking only one source leaves you exposed under the other.
Fire Safety Stages
Stage 1 prohibits open burning of yard debris in unincorporated Whatcom County. Recreational fires in approved enclosures remain legal, as do propane and charcoal barbecues. This is the most common summer restriction.1Whatcom County. Reminder – Stage 1 Burn Ban Beginning June 15, 2026
Stage 2 shuts down all recreational wood-burning fires, including campfires and backyard fire pits. Propane fire pits that burn no solid wood are still allowed, and propane and charcoal barbecues continue to be permitted. Wood-burning fire pits, charcoal pits, and similar enclosures with grates or screens do not count as barbecues and are banned at Stage 2.2Whatcom County. Stage 2 Burn Ban
Conditions can shift within a day. A Stage 1 ban can escalate to Stage 2 quickly if weather worsens, so a fire that was legal yesterday may not be legal tonight.
Air Quality Stages
A Stage 1 air quality ban from the Northwest Clean Air Agency prohibits all outdoor burning and prohibits the use of uncertified wood stoves and fireplaces. Households whose only source of heat is a wood-burning device can apply for a No Adequate Source of Heat exemption through NWCAA. The exemption must be approved before you burn, runs one year (July 1 through June 30), and does not cover detached garages, shops, or outbuildings.3Northwest Clean Air Agency. Wood Heating Exemption Forms
A Stage 2 air quality ban prohibits burning in all wood stoves, fireplaces, and pellet stoves regardless of certification. Smoke opacity rules continue to apply even with a NOASH exemption.4Northwest Clean Air Agency. Outdoor Burning
How to Check the Current Status
Check both numbers before every fire:
- Fire safety stage: Whatcom County Burn Information Line at 360-778-5903, a recorded message with the current stage for unincorporated areas.5Whatcom County. Outdoor Burning
- Air quality stage: Northwest Clean Air Agency at nwcleanairwa.gov for current air quality stages and pollution forecasts.4Northwest Clean Air Agency. Outdoor Burning
The county’s Notify Me system at whatcomcounty.us/alertcenter will push an alert when a stage changes, so you don’t have to call every time.6Whatcom County. Alert Center
Recreational Fires During Stage 1
Because recreational fires are the main thing still permitted under the current Stage 1 ban, the enclosure and setup rules matter. These apply any time you have a recreational fire, ban or no ban:
- Enclosure no larger than 3 feet across and at least 16 inches high, built of cement block, stones, or 10-gauge steel, with fuel kept below the sidewalls.
- At least 25 feet of clearance from any structure, timber, or combustible material.
- A charged garden hose or two 5-gallon buckets of water within reach, plus a shovel or rake able to stir and smother the fire.
- Someone 16 or older must stay with the fire at all times.
Beach fires can be dug into an 8-inch pit surrounded by a 4-inch rock enclosure rather than the standard ring.5Whatcom County. Outdoor Burning You also cannot burn when wind speeds exceed 7 miles per hour or during air stagnation periods.1Whatcom County. Reminder – Stage 1 Burn Ban Beginning June 15, 2026
Where the Rules Apply
The Fire Marshal’s Stage 1 ban covers unincorporated Whatcom County. Incorporated cities including Bellingham, Lynden, and Ferndale enforce their own fire codes, which typically mirror or exceed county rules. Bellingham, for example, follows similar recreational fire size and clearance standards through its own fire department.7City of Bellingham. Outdoor Burning
All cities and urban growth areas in Whatcom County are closed to open burning of yard debris year-round, independent of any ban. Only recreational fires are allowed in those zones.5Whatcom County. Outdoor Burning
Properties under Washington Department of Natural Resources fire protection face a separate layer. When DNR issues a restriction, it applies to state, county, city, and private land under its protection, and a county lift does not override a DNR ban. Federal lands, including national forests, run under their own fire management plans.
Materials You Can Never Burn
Washington state law permanently bans certain materials from any outdoor fire, no matter what the burn stage says. These apply year-round, everywhere in the state:
- Garbage and paper, including cardboard and household trash beyond what you need to start a fire
- Plastics and rubber, including tires
- Treated wood, demolition debris, and milled lumber
- Petroleum and asphalt products, including paints and solvents
- Dead animals and motor vehicle parts
Only natural vegetation belongs in an outdoor burn pile. Everything else goes to a solid waste facility.8Washington State Legislature. WAC 173-425-060 – Outdoor Burning
Fines and Liability
A fire safety ban violation carries a minimum fine of $250. If the fire escapes or the fire department has to put it out, you can be billed for the full cost of suppression and may face criminal charges on top of the fine.1Whatcom County. Reminder – Stage 1 Burn Ban Beginning June 15, 2026
Air quality violations are much steeper. The Northwest Clean Air Agency can impose civil penalties up to $26,000 per day per violation, with each day of continued noncompliance treated as a separate offense. The agency can also factor in the economic benefit of noncompliance, so the final penalty can exceed what following the rules would have cost. Knowing and willful violations can trigger criminal prosecution under Washington’s Clean Air Act.9Washington State Legislature. WSR 25-11-013 – NWCAA Regulation Amendments
The suppression-cost bill is where people get hurt worst financially. A wildfire traced to an illegal burn can cost tens of thousands of dollars to contain, and Washington law lets state and local agencies recover those costs from whoever started it.