Whatcom County is under a heat advisory through Tuesday night, June 24, with a countywide Stage 1 burn ban currently in effect, according to the Whatcom County Emergency Management daily briefing for Monday, June 22. Residents are asked to take precautions as temperatures climb and fire risk increases across the region.
The heat advisory covers Whatcom County along with much of the broader Pacific Northwest, where warm and dry conditions have settled in for what appears to be an extended stretch of summer weather. Heat advisories from the National Weather Service are issued when temperatures are expected to cause significant discomfort and pose a health risk, particularly for vulnerable populations including the elderly, young children, and those who work or exercise outdoors.
Alongside the heat advisory, Whatcom County has placed a countywide Stage 1 burn ban in effect. Stage 1 restrictions prohibit burning debris in burn barrels, burning yard waste and agricultural material, using outdoor fireplaces and chimineas, and operating recreational fires. The restrictions do not apply to fully enclosed gas appliances or camp stoves using gas, propane, or liquid fuel. Residents should check the Whatcom County website for updates on the burn ban status, which can change as weather conditions shift.
Tuesday evening, June 23, Whatcom County Emergency Management is hosting a virtual public meeting on the Whatcom County Hazard Mitigation Plan update. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. and will be held virtually, with a link available through the Whatcom County Plans page. The meeting is open to all residents and represents an opportunity for the public to hear about the natural and human-caused hazards identified in Whatcom County and to learn how local governments and agencies are working to reduce their impact.
The Hazard Mitigation Plan is a federally required document that counties must maintain and update periodically in order to remain eligible for certain FEMA mitigation grant programs. The plan inventories hazards ranging from earthquakes, volcanic events, and flooding to winter storms, wildfires, and hazardous material incidents. It then outlines specific mitigation actions that local agencies can take to reduce risk and protect life and property. Public input is a required component of the plan update process, which is why residents are being encouraged to attend or submit feedback via an online survey.
Whatcom County is home to a wide range of natural hazard risks. The county sits near the Cascade volcanic arc and within the reach of potential Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake effects. Seasonal flooding affects river valleys throughout the county, including the Nooksack River basin that winds through Lynden, Everson, and Sumas. Wildfire risk has grown in recent years as climate patterns shift and drought conditions become more frequent during summer months. The Hazard Mitigation Plan addresses all of these scenarios and more.
The Whatcom County Division of Emergency Management noted in Monday's briefing that the county Emergency Operations Center is not currently activated, meaning there is no active disaster response underway. Residents should continue to take standard heat precautions and sign up for emergency alerts through WhatcomReady if they have not already done so. The alert system provides timely notifications for flood warnings, severe weather, and other emergencies affecting specific areas of the county.
Those who cannot attend Tuesday's virtual hazard mitigation meeting can still submit input through the online survey linked from the county's emergency management pages. Written feedback from community members helps planners identify local concerns and priorities that might not otherwise surface in official agency assessments. Whatcom County is encouraging participation from residents across all communities, including rural areas of the county that may face different hazard profiles than urban Bellingham.
