BEACH FIRES
BEACH FIRES ON CAMANO ISLAND
In general, beach fires are allowed within Island County – without a permit – on privately owned property, when observing these guidelines:
BEACH FIRES ON PRIVATE PROPERTY:
- Authorized “recreational” beach fires are allowed without a permit, provided the fire does not exceed 3 feet in diameter.
- Fuel must be either charcoal, firewood, or pressure regulated LPG. ( no treated, painted, or processed lumber )
- Must remain 25 feet away from any structure or other combustible materials.
- No burning is allowed within large driftwood piles ( no timber size logs ).
- Outdoor burning must cease when wind conditions exceed 7 MPH.
- Either / or, two five gallon water buckets – or a charged garden hose – or instead, a minimum 4A ( 10 lb ) rated fire extinguisher is required to be on site.
- Unaccompanied visiting guests must have the land owner’s written permission for the beach fire.
- Fires must be attended at all times. Minimum age for the responsible party is 16 years old.
- Flames contained within a deliberate fire pit, constructed of concrete, stone, or metal with a minimum 16 inches height, placed upon a bare earth surface, and well away from tall grass is the best practice.
- Portable transportable outdoor metal fireplace devices must remain 15 feet away from any structure or other combustible materials.
- Ceremonial or religious ritual BON FIRES ( exceeding the 3 foot pile size ) may require written permit. Contact the County Health Dept.
- Fires must be fully extinguished, wet, and cold to the touch when departing the beach area.
AT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION & COMMUNITY SHARED BEACHES:
- If a local neighborhood community imposes their own level of no beach fires rule – by means of a restrictive covenant – then the neighborhood governing body themselves will need to enforce their own rules, . . . the fire district or the Island County Sheriff will not do so.
AT STATE OR COUNTY OWNED BEACHES / BOAT RAMPS:
- Beach fires are NOT allowed at Island County owned beaches or boat ramps.
- Certain State Parks do allow beach fires – within designated fire enclosures. The State Park Rangers administer these rules.
SEAONAL BURN BAN PERIODS:
- Whenever a seasonal countywide burn ban is in effect then beach fires may be further restricted – or even halted.
NATURAL DEBRIS PILE FIRES:
- A natural debris burn fire pile size exceeding a 4 foot pile size will require a County Health Dept permit – available from the County Annex. These fires must remain 50 feet away from any structure or other combustible materials.
SKY LANTERNS ( open flame paper balloons ):
- RCW 76.04.455 states that during the “closed season,” which lasts from April 15–October 15, it is unlawful to release a sky lantern “on or over any forest, brush, range, or grain areas.” The same RCW also states that outside of the closed season, it is unlawful to release a sky lantern “on or over any forest, brush, range, or grain areas” unless the person releasing the lantern has either:
(1) lawful possession and control of the land in question; or
(2) has prior written permission to release the sky lantern from the person
who owns the land in question.
AND;
- Section 308.1.6.3 of the I.F.C, states that “a person shall not release or cause to be released an untethered sky lantern.”