03/19/2007: "Burn Ban Imposed In SJC Urban Areas"

San Juan County Fire Marshal Robert Low has announced that "Pursuant to their mandate under the /clean Air Act, the Washington State Department of Ecology now prohibits all burning of natural vegetation in Urban Growth areas. These areas of more dense development include Eastsound and Lopez Village, Outdoor burning is also prohibited within the town of Friday Harbor."

There are exceptions to this rule including the burning of debris from storm damage and recreational camp fires. The following is the Department of Ecologies definition of storm damage.

24) "Storm or flood debris burning" means fires consisting of natural vegetation deposited on lands by storms or floods that have occurred in the previous two years and resulted in an emergency being declared or proclaimed in the area by the city, county, or state government and burned on such lands by the property owner or his or her designee. (RCW 70.94.743 (1)(c))

A permit issued by the San Juan County Fire Marshall is required to burn storm debris. Recreational fires are those built in an approved burn ring up to two feet in diameter and cleared to mineral earth two feet beyond the perimeter.

Additional information from the Department of Ecology at http://www.ecy.wa.gov

Please feel free to contact Fire Marshal Low at 360-378-3473 should you have any question.