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.”