Whatcom County fire District #8
Burn information

1. Residential burning shall be permitted during daylight hours only. Daylight hours are defined as one-half hour before sunrise and one-half hour after sunset.
2. Only natural vegetation from the burn address listed shall be burned. The fire shall not contain any rubber products, asphalt products, petroleum products, plastics, garbage, dead animals or any other waste material that emits dense smoke or creates offensive odor.
3. Persons capable of extinguishing the fire, and equipment suitable for extinguishing the fire shall be on the burn site and in attendance at all times until the fire is completely extinguished.
4. Burning is not to be conducted within fifty (50) feet of any structure or fence or any other combustible material.
5. Only one (1) pile may be burned at a time, and that pile may be no larger than 4 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 4 feet high. Only material at the burn site may be burned. No additional material may be brought to the location for disposal.
6. Burning shall not be ignited whenever the wind speed exceeds five (5) miles per hour. Should winds exceed ten (10) miles per hour after the pile is ignited, the pile must be allowed to burn down and additional material shall not be added.
7. Burning shall be conducted only on the property indicated, and within the time guidelines specified on this permit. The permit shall be available for inspection by Fire District officials at the burn location whenever conducting burning.
8. If a violation or unsafe act is identified the burn permit may be revoked at any time by the Fire Chief of Whatcom County Fire District 8 or his designee. The violation of, or failure to comply with all Fire District, County, Department of Natural Resources, and/or Northwest Air Pollution Authority regulations shall be subject to penalty. A maximum penalty or service charge of ($250.00) two hundred and fifty dollars may be imposed by the Fire Chief against the property owner.

HOW THE NEW BURN LAWS AFFECT YOU

As of Monday, January 1st, 2001 residential yard clean-up and land-clearing burning was banned in the Urban Growth areas of Whatcom County Fire District 8. If your property lies within the boundaries of the Urban Growth area (according to our map), you may no longer legally burn.

If you have any questions about outdoor burning, air pollution laws, or to find alternatives to outdoor burning, please call 1-800-622-4627 or (360) 428-1617, or visit the Northwest Air Pollution Authority website at www.nwair.org