People who want to light big fires in Island County will have to pay more and burn faster beginning Oct. 1.

Island County Commissioners approved a resolution Monday that raised fees for burn permits and lowers the burning duration in unincorporated Island County.

Betty Kemp, General Services Administration director, said the fees were increased in order to make the program pay for itself. The duration of the fires were cut to improve air quality. Currently, the burn piles are allowed to continue smoldering for up to seven days.

Beginning Oct. 1, permits for residential fires will cost $40, which is up from $20. The fire can only burn for three days. Residential fires can be no greater than 10 feet by 10 feet.

Permits for land-clearing burn piles will cost $100, an increase from $50. The permits are only for a 24-hour burn period. The burn piles are larger than 10 feet by 10 feet, but cannot exceed 30 feet in diameter.

No permit is required for recreational fires. Only charcoal and firewood can be burned in the fires.

Commissioner Helen Price Johnson said the clean air program costs the county $43,000 a year, though $13,000 comes from the Northwest Clean Air Agency. So far this year, the county has only collected $7,000 in burn permit fees, she said.

“This is a needed update to match the cost of the program,” the commissioner said.