Burn ban restrictions reduced

With the return of wet weather, Island County Sheriff Mark Brown, who’s also the county’s fire marshal, has relaxed fire-related rules a bit.

On Wednesday, the sheriff’s office announced easing of the county’s burn ban. Cooking fires and campfires are now allowed under the type II ban. Bonfires using charcoal or firewood that occur in designated areas or on private property are also allowed.

Fires must be contained in an enclosure, near hoses or other means of extinguishing the fire, at least 10 feet away from timber or other combustible materials and at least one person aged 16 or over must be present.

Enclosures must be at least 16 inches high, no wider than three feet across and made of cement block, stones or #10 gauge steel.

Any outdoor burning requiring a permit and fires used for debris disposal purposes are still restricted.