WCFMO will not be reducing the burn ban for the Labor Day Weekend to allow for campfires. The burn ban is remaining at Stage 2.
While the county has had some rain over the last few days, it has not been enough to reduce the fire danger to a level low enough for a reduction in the burn ban level. Per the National Weather Service, we have had approximately a half inch of rain. This amount of precipitation is quickly negated with just an hour of sun and moderate winds. The weather forecast for Friday (Sept 1st) and Saturday (Sept 2nd) will have temperatures well above 70 degrees. Currently, there are three active wildland fires (Sourdough, Blue Canyon, and Coal Creek) actively burning in Whatcom, we do not want to further tax local and DNR fire fighters with the threat of other brush and wildland fires, while efforts to contain and extinguish these fires are ongoing.
The forecast is improving and we hope to be able to reduce the burn ban back to a Stage 1 burn ban within the next couple of weeks. This is dependent upon the weather providing enough rain for the foliage to regain sufficient moisture.
If you have any questions on open burning in unincorporated Whatcom County, please contact the Whatcom County Fire Marshal’s Office at 360-778-5900 or visit our website at: http://www.whatcomcounty.us/FireMarshal. You must phone the Outdoor Burning Information Line every time you burn in Whatcom County: 360-778-5903.