Orcas Island Burn Ban to Start Early

— from Chief Miklos Preysz, Orcas Island Fire & Rescue —

Orcas Island Fire & Rescue is reaching out to our community about the dry conditions we are experiencing on Orcas Island. Please be advised that we are ending the 2014/2015 burn season early on Monday, June 22, 2015. No doubt, you all have noted that 2015 has been drier than recent years, and the conditions we are experiencing are indicative of what we normally observe in late August or early September.

For these reasons, we are asking all our residents and visitors to stop burning as soon as possible and definitely not after Monday, June 22 when the “Burn Ban” will be in place for Orcas Island. This ban includes commercial and residential burn piles with permits having an Orcas Island address for the burn location. Recreational fires (defined as fires with a diameter of 24″ by 24″ and contained within a pit, a ring, or a bowl) are still allowed at this time.

The “Burn Ban” will not affect State Parks, Department of Natural Resources lands or properties not on Orcas Island having valid San Juan County Fire Marshal burn permits. These areas are governed by state and/or San Juan County criteria that indicate 1000-hour fuels at normal levels.

Again, Orcas Island Fire & Rescue is taking a more conservative approach with the request that all residents and visitors participate in a voluntary burn ban prior to the initiation of the Monday, June 22 “Burn Ban” date. If you must burn before June 22, please adhere to the countywide regulations in effect at this time including burning only between 6:00 a.m. and noon. Please notify Orcas Island Fire and Rescue the night before you burn. Remember to have a charged hose nearby and to apply water to the area of the burn. Permits for the 2015/2016 burning season will be issued again on October 1, 2015, if at that time normal seasonal conditions prevail.