Island County will be under a modified burn ban starting Tuesday, July 15.
As of 8 a.m. that day, no outdoor burning of natural debris will be permitted, even with a permit, according the notice from the Island County Sheriff’s Office.
Under this modified ban, recreational and cooking fires will be allowed, but only in approved fire pits. These pits will need to be lined with concrete, like those that can be found in campgrounds.
Outdoor cooking will also be allowed on a propane or briquette barbecue, or in a self-contained camp stove, according to the notice.
The reason for this scheduled burn ban is stated as lower-than-normal moisture levels, low humidity and warmer weather, all of which increase the risk of fire.
July and August in Island County have the lowest precipitation, with less than one inch of rain, on average, according to city-data.com.
The ban, put officially in place by Sheriff Mark Brown, serving as the Island County Fire Marshal, will start at 8 a.m. July 15, and remain in effect until further notice.