Commissioners imposes countywide burn ban effective June 15

OKANOGAN – Acting on a recommendation from the Fire Advisory Committee (FAC), the Okanogan County Commissioners approved Resolution 61-2023 imposing countywide burn restrictions from midnight, June 15 through midnight, October 15. The FAC is comprised of representatives from DNR, Emergency Management, Fire Chiefs, Forest Service, and the Sheriff's Office who meet when necessary to discuss the burn restriction, burn ban process and fire danger levels.

The resolution does not apply to areas within city limits, silvicultural burning on lands regulated solely by DNR’s outdoor burning rules and regulations, fire in DNR recreation sites and campgrounds, or on U.S. Forest Service protected lands and within the Colville Reservation.  The DNR, U.S. Forest Service and Colville Tribes may have similar burn restrictions/bans in effect.  Some private parcels may also have DNR restrictions if it includes a DNR Fire Tax Assessment.  This can be found on County tax statements.

Provisions of the ban per the Okanogan County Emergency Management website include:

•     No field/pile/rubbish/rule/slash/yard vegetation or non-emergent agricultural burning on private lands within Okanogan County.

• Recreational Fires allowed. Recreational fires must be contained in a concrete, rock, or steel ring (made from non-combustible material), no larger than 3 feet in diameter and no less than 8 inches in height. The fire (flames) shall be no higher than 2 feet and not conducted within 25 feet of a structure or combustible material.  Recreational fires shall be attended to at all times.  

The burn restriction prohibits all field/pile/rubbish/rule/slash/yard vegetation and non-emergent agricultural burning on private lands within the unincorporated areas of Okanogan County reducing the risk of wildfires.

Recreational Fires are allowed during a burn restriction if used for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking, warmth, or similar purposes and the fuel being burned is other than rubbish.  Fires used for debris disposal purposes are not considered recreational fires.

Emergency Agricultural Permit Burning:

The Tri-County Pest Control Agent may issue an Okanogan County Agricultural burn permit after a site inspection and obtain a signature from the property owner/orchardist on said permit, having them accept full responsibility to comply with all conditions of the permit.

Property owners/orchardists needing to burn fire blight trees shall contact the Tri-County Pest Control Office at (509-667-6827 or 509-393-0975) to obtain an Okanogan County Agricultural Burn Permit before burning.

Property owners issued an Okanogan County Agricultural Burn Permit must call the Okanogan County Sheriff Dispatch at 509-422-7232 option #4 before conducting any burning and have on-site sufficient water supply and fire tools to man the burn at all times until fire is fully extinguished.  The permit will be onsite and available to authorities during the agricultural burn.