Orcas Island Fire and Rescue is reaching out to the community about the dry conditions. The burn season ended June 22.

“No doubt you all have noted that 2015 has been drier than recent years, and the conditions we are experiencing are indicative of what we normally observe in late August or early September,” said Acting Fire Chief Mik Preysz. “For these reasons, we are asking all our residents and visitors to stop burning as soon as possible.”

The burn ban includes commercial and residential burn piles with permits having an Orcas Island address for the burn location. Recreational fires (defined as fires with a diameter of 24″ by 24″ and contained within a pit, a ring or a bowl) are still allowed at this time. The ban will not affect state parks, Department of Natural Resources lands or properties not on Orcas Island having valid San Juan County Fire Marshal burn permits. These areas are governed by state and/or San Juan County criteria that indicate 1,000-hour fuels at normal levels. Preysz said that if you must burn before June 22, adhere to the countywide regulations of only burning between 6 a.m. and noon. Notify Orcas Island Fire and Rescue the night before you burn. Remember to have a charged hose nearby and to apply water to the area of the burn. Permits for the 2015/2016 burning season will be issued again on October 1, 2015, if at that time normal seasonal conditions prevail.