Air quality burn ban

Smoke from wild fires in Washington led to warnings from the state department of ecology telling people to stay indoors as much as possible as the Pacific Northwest had the worst air quality in the U.S. on Tuesday. Rain and wind is in the forecast for Friday and is expected to clear the skies of smoke while bringing relief to stressed vegetation. The mile marker at Maple Beach was lost from view as the smoke rolled in.

Photo by Stephen Fowler

Posted Thursday, October 20, 2022 3:45 pm

The Northwest Clean Air Agency has issued a stage 2 air quality burn ban for Whatcom County, as well as Island and Skagit counties. Outdoor burning including agricultural burning, campfires, and fire pits is prohibited. The use of wood stoves is also prohibited unless that is the only source of heat for a home.

The stage 2 burn ban will remain in effect until the air quality conditions change. The ban was issued due to the harmful levels of wildfire smoke that are impacting the local air quality.

This burn ban is in addition to the current county-wide burn ban, which was imposed by the county fire marshal on June 16 and remains in effect until further notice.

For more information, bit.ly/3DgXtv2.