Fire Marshal Shawn Linville has ordered a complete outdoor burn ban for the City of Bellingham, effective 2:00 p.m. Thursday, August 6, citing dry weather conditions and dangerously low fuel moisture levels across the region. The ban is in effect until further notice and applies to all open burning within city limits.
The order puts Bellingham in step with a countywide and statewide response to escalating fire conditions. The Washington Department of Natural Resources has issued a statewide burn ban prohibiting all open burning on state-protected lands, and unincorporated Whatcom County has implemented a matching restriction under a Stage 2 burn ban that has been in place since July 17.
What Is Prohibited and What Is Still Allowed
The Bellingham ban covers all outdoor burning without exception. Recreational campfires, fire pits, and chimineas are prohibited, regardless of whether they are enclosed with a grate or screen. The city is explicit that fire pits and similar enclosures are not considered the equivalent of commercially available barbecues and are subject to the ban.
Commercially manufactured barbecue grills, including gas and charcoal models, remain permitted. However, the Fire Department is urging residents who use charcoal grills to exercise extra caution when disposing of ash and charcoal. Used ash and charcoal should be placed in a metal container, soaked with water, and kept at least 10 feet from any structures or combustible vegetation for a minimum of 72 hours before final disposal.
Violations of the burn restrictions can result in a minimum fine of $250. Residents who start an illegal fire that requires suppression by the fire department may face both financial and criminal liability for the cost of the response.
Why the Ban Was Issued Now
The Whatcom County Emergency Management daily briefing for August 6 described smoke lingering across the region and warm, humid conditions. The Northwest Clean Air Agency had classified air quality in parts of the county as unhealthy to hazardous in recent days, with smoke from wildfires burning in the North Cascades and eastern Washington drifting into the lowlands.
The DNR fire danger rating for the Whatcom County lowlands is listed at High, with the Cascades rated Moderate to High. A drought declared by the Washington Department of Ecology on April 8, 2026 remains in effect for Whatcom County, compounding the dry fuel conditions on the ground. Dry weather is forecast to continue through the weekend and into early next week, with only a slim chance of showers possible on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The heat advisory for northwest Washington has been extended through 10 p.m. Friday, August 7, with forecast highs in the mid-80s for Everson, Lynden, Sumas, and Deming. Elevated temperatures combined with low humidity accelerate the drying of grasses and brush, increasing the risk that any ignition, accidental or otherwise, could spread rapidly.
Whatcom County and Statewide Context
Fires burning near Ross Lake in the far eastern portion of Whatcom County are being managed by the North Cascades National Park Service, with the Whatcom County Division of Emergency Management monitoring the situation. The Emergency Operations Center has not been activated as of August 6, but the DEM is tracking active incidents and advising residents to sign up for emergency alerts through WhatcomReady.org.
Across Washington state, wildfire activity has been significant this summer. Fires in eastern Washington have drawn intense scrutiny after unauthorized drones were spotted flying over restricted firefighting airspace, forcing aerial suppression operations to be suspended temporarily. Law enforcement agencies including the FBI have partnered with county sheriffs to enforce no-fly zones around active fire zones.
Who to Call With Questions
Residents with questions about what is or is not allowed under the Bellingham burn ban can contact the Bellingham Fire Department Life Safety Division at 360-778-8420. Current burn ban status for the broader county can be checked by calling the Whatcom County Burn Information Line at 360-778-5903.
The ban will remain in effect until Fire Marshal Linville determines that conditions have improved sufficiently to lift the restriction. No timeline for lifting the ban has been announced. Residents should monitor official city and county channels for updates as conditions change.
