Extreme fire conditions force a burn ban in Whatcom County. Here’s when it starts

A burn ban has been issued in Whatcom County beginning at 9 a.m. Friday, outlawing all outdoor burning except for small recreational fires using seasoned firewood or charcoal.

Those fires are limited to 3 feet square and 16 inches high, and there must be a way to put the fire out right away, according to the Whatcom County Fire Marshal’s Office.

“Since Memorial Day weekend, there have been 68 fire department responses for concerns of unsafe burning. Of those responses, 17 were for brush fires,” fire inspector Jacob Johnson said in an emailed statement.

“Department of Natural Resources wildland firefighters were notified on three occasions of the brush fires due to concerns regarding the speed of growth and severity of the fires. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning due to the ‘hot, dry, and unstable conditions’ in eastern Whatcom County,” Johnson said.

It could be just the beginning of a long, hot summer, according to weather forecasters.

Long-range forecasts from the Climate Prediction Center show that Western Washington has a 70% to 80% chance of above-normal temperatures through June, on top of a recent summer forecast that calls for warmer temperatures with lower than normal rainfall.

“The National Interagency Fire Center puts the Pacific Northwest at a higher risk of wildland fire, especially in July and later,” Washington state climatologist Nick Bond told The Bellingham Herald.

“Our major fire events always include strong winds, but we cannot forecast that aspect of the weather on time horizons greater than a week or so. The bottom line is that while many folks may be enjoying the sunshine — and still pleasant afternoon temperatures — the landscape is drying out somewhat ahead of schedule,” Bond said in an email.

Meanwhile, unseasonably warm temperatures are expected to continue for at least the next several days, according to the National Weather Service in Seattle.

Daytime high temperatures are expected in the mid- to upper 70s and warmer, about 10 degrees above normal June highs for Bellingham.

There’s a slight chance of rain Friday, but warmer temperatures and sunny skies are forecast into next week.