Planning a backyard bonfire for summer? Here are Bellingham, Whatcom County laws on that

Thinking of having a backyard bonfire this summer? Recreational fires are legal in both Bellingham and Whatcom County, but you have to follow a strict set of criteria. Here’s what city and county law have to say.

Recreational fires are mostly legal in Bellingham

Unless there’s a temporary ban in place, which can happen when there’s heightened fire risk, poor air quality or increased air pollution, recreational fires are legal according to the City of Bellingham. However, there’s a strict set of criteria, based on state law, the International Fire Code and Northwest Clean Air Agency rules, that a recreational fire has to meet.

First of all, you can only burn firewood or charcoal. A recreational fire can’t be more than two feet high or three feet wide. It has to be attended at all times, and a fire extinguisher, hose, bucket of water, dirt or sand must be on hand.

A fire in a portable, contained outdoor fireplace can’t come within 15 feet of a building or any combustible material, although one or two family residences are exempt. The rules are even more strict if you’re using an open fire pit – those can’t come within 25 feet of a building.

The full list of criteria is available on the city’s website.

It doesn’t take a lot to get a fire shut down

One of the city’s criteria for recreational fires is open for interpretation. It states that a recreational fire has to be put out if it’s “detrimental to the health, safety, or welfare of any person, if it causes damage to property or business, or if it causes a nuisance.” So if you follow all of the city’s rules but a neighbor is bothered by the smoke coming from your backyard fire, you have to put the fire out.

Whatcom County policy

Whatcom County has its own set of rules regarding recreational fires, although they’re similar to city law.

The county requires a working hose or two five-gallon buckets of water to be near any recreational fire. Someone must be on hand to supervise the fire at all times and after dark, the person supervising has to be over the age of 16.

Fires have to be contained in an enclosure smaller than three feet by three feet, with walls higher than 16 inches. Whatcom County doesn’t allow fires when wind speeds are above seven miles per hour.

The county’s webpage regarding non-recreational outdoor burning asks that you call them at 360-778-5903 “for a verbal burn permit.”