The City of Bellingham lifted its ban on recreational fires within city limits effective 5 p.m. on Friday, September 11, 2026. The decision, announced by Bellingham Fire Department Division Chief Shawn Linville, came after recent rainfall reduced fire danger across the area to a level the department considered safe for backyard fires to resume.
"We appreciate everyone's patience and compliance during the fire ban," Linville said. "Please continue exercising caution and follow the guidelines to ensure community safety."
What Changed and Why
Bellingham's total outdoor burn ban was originally put in place on August 6, 2026, as the state entered what officials described as one of its worst fire seasons on record. The ban prohibited all outdoor burning within city limits, including backyard fire pits, chimineas, and portable fire bowls. For more than five weeks, residents who wanted to enjoy an evening around a fire pit in their backyard had no legal option to do so inside city boundaries. The decision to lift the ban on September 11 followed a period of September rain that raised fuel moisture levels throughout Whatcom County's lowlands, bringing conditions down to a threshold the fire department determined was safe for carefully managed recreational fires to resume.
The city's move came just hours after Whatcom County separately reduced its burn restrictions in unincorporated parts of the county from a Stage 2 ban to a Stage 1 ban at 8 a.m. the same morning. Under Stage 1, recreational fires are permitted throughout unincorporated Whatcom County as long as they meet specific requirements. The Whatcom County Fire Marshal's office cited increased moisture levels as the reason for its own downgrade. Together, the two announcements effectively re-opened recreational fires across most of the county on the same day, giving residents on both sides of the city-county boundary the same basic opportunity to light a fire legally for the first time since early August.
The timing is worth understanding in context. September in the Pacific Northwest often begins with rain but can shift quickly back toward dry, breezy conditions as high-pressure systems rebuild over the region. Fire officials are aware of that pattern, which is part of why both the city and county emphasized continued caution even as restrictions eased. A few dry days with east winds can reverse the moisture gains that led to Friday's decision, and conditions are reassessed on a rolling basis.
For residents wondering about drought status: the Washington Department of Ecology declared a drought affecting Whatcom County on April 8, 2026, and that declaration remains in place. The U.S. Drought Monitor indicates most of Whatcom County remains abnormally dry, with far eastern parts of the county still in moderate drought. The easing of burn bans reflects improved short-term moisture conditions, not an end to the broader drought. Residents should keep that distinction in mind: the drought declaration carries its own water use guidance and implications for wells and surface water that are separate from the fire ban question.
The Rules for Legal Recreational Fires
Both the city and the county have published guidelines that residents must follow to keep recreational fires legal and safe. These are not suggestions. Violating burn restrictions in unincorporated areas carries a minimum fine of $250, and anyone responsible for an illegal fire that escapes or requires fire department suppression may face liability for suppression costs as well as criminal charges of reckless burning. Those costs can run into the tens of thousands of dollars if firefighting resources are deployed. Even within city limits, where the specific penalty structure differs, an unattended or out-of-control fire can result in significant civil and criminal liability.
Within Bellingham city limits, the rules are as follows: burn only seasoned firewood or charcoal; do not burn garbage, yard debris, or construction materials. Fires must be kept small, no more than 3 feet wide and 2 feet tall. You must stay with your fire at all times and fully extinguish it before leaving. Fires must be at least 25 feet from any structure or combustible material; portable outdoor fireplaces must maintain at least 15 feet of clearance. You must have the property owner's permission before starting a fire, and you must have a charged garden hose, a 4-A rated fire extinguisher, or two 5-gallon buckets of water nearby. The requirement to have suppression equipment ready is not a formality. A fire that jumps its ring or gets blown sideways by an unexpected gust needs to be controlled in the first seconds, not after someone has gone inside to find a hose.
In unincorporated Whatcom County under Stage 1 restrictions, recreational fires must also meet dimensional requirements: up to 3 feet by 3 feet using seasoned firewood or charcoal only, in an enclosure at least 16 inches high made of steel, masonry, or rockery. The 25-foot clearance from structures, timber, and combustible material applies, along with 15 feet of overhead clearance. You must have a garden hose or two 5-gallon buckets of water on site, have hand tools available, attend the fire after dark until it is fully extinguished, and not burn when winds exceed 7 mph. The 7 mph wind threshold is lower than many people might expect. A wind that barely moves a flag can be enough to carry embers into dry grass or a neighbor's wood pile. When in doubt, wait for calmer conditions before lighting up.
All other outdoor burning in unincorporated Whatcom County, including yard debris and land clearing fires, remains prohibited under the Stage 1 ban. Residents who have been waiting to burn brush piles or garden waste will need to continue waiting until restrictions ease further or the burn season opens in the spring under normal conditions.
Who to Contact With Questions
Residents with questions about outdoor fires within Bellingham city limits should contact the Bellingham Fire Department Life Safety Division at (360) 778-8420. For unincorporated areas of Whatcom County, contact the Whatcom County Fire Marshal's outdoor burn information line at (360) 778-5903. Both offices can answer questions about whether a specific type of fire or location qualifies under current restrictions, and they would rather field a question before a fire than respond to one after it escapes.
Weather conditions could cause restrictions to change again quickly. September in the Pacific Northwest can bring warm, dry stretches after early rain, and the county's fire danger levels are reassessed regularly. Residents who want to plan a fire pit evening should monitor the Whatcom County website for any changes to burn ban status before lighting up. A ban that is lifted on a Friday afternoon could be reinstated by the following Monday if conditions deteriorate. Staying current with the posted status takes only a few minutes and prevents the risk of lighting a fire that has just become illegal again. For context on related Whatcom County road and outdoor conditions this week, additional burn and outdoor news is available here.
