Burn Ban Information

The Okanogan County Emergency Management webpage will be the official host page for all the burn restriction/ban information for all private property in unincorporated areas of Okanogan County.

The Fire Advisory Committee consisting of representatives from DNR, Emergency Management, Fire Chiefs, Forest Service, and the Sheriff's Office meet when necessary to discuss the burn restriction and burn ban process and fire danger levels and makes recommendations to the Okanogan County Commissioners.

A Burn Restriction will be effective from: June 15, 2023 12:01 AM (midnight) through October 15, 2023 at 12:01 AM (midnight)

• NO field/pile/rubbish/rule/slash/yard vegetation or non-emergent agricultural burning on private lands within Okanogan County.
• Recreational Fires ALLOWED (see definition below)
• When high fire conditions become present a County Wide BURN BAN will be implemented prohibiting ALL outdoor burning, including recreational fires.

View Okanogan County Resolution 061-2023

This resolution does not apply to areas within city limits, silvicultural burning on lands regulated solely by DNR’s outdoor burning rules and regulations, fire in DNR recreation sites and campgrounds, or on U.S. Forest Service protected lands and within the Colville Reservation.  The DNR, U.S. Forest Service and Colville Tribes may have similar burn restrictions/bans in effect.  Some private parcels may also have DNR restrictions if it includes a DNR Fire Tax Assessment.  This can be found on County tax statements.

The Burn Restriction is activated by a set date, but may be implemented earlier or extended

due to conditions.

The burn restriction prohibits ALL field/pile/rubbish/rule/slash/yard vegetation and non-emergent agricultural burning on private lands within the unincorporated areas of Okanogan County reducing the risk of wildfires.


Recreational Fires are ALLOWED during a burn restriction if used for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking, warmth, or similar purposes and the fuel being burned is other than rubbish.  Fires used for debris disposal purposes are NOT considered recreational fires.

Recreational Fire Definition:

Recreational fires must be contained in a concrete, rock, or steel ring (made from non-combustible material), no larger than 3 feet in diameter and no less than 8 inches in height.  The fire (flames) shall be no higher than 2 feet and not conducted within 25 feet of a structure or combustible material.  Recreational fires SHALL be attended to at all times.  

(DNR burning restrictions may apply to your private property if you are assessed a DNR Fire Control tax. This can be found on your county tax statement).

The Burn Ban is implemented when High Fire Conditions exist prohibiting ALL outdoor burning including recreational fires and when rescinded will revert back to a Burn Restriction.

Emergency Agricultural Permit Burning:

The Tri-County Pest Control Agent may issue an Okanogan County Agricultural burn permit after a site inspection and obtain a signature from the property owner/orchardist on said permit, having them accept full responsibility to comply with all conditions of the permit.

Property owners/orchardists needing to burn fire blight trees shall contact the Tri-County Pest Control Office at (509-667-6827 or 509-393-0975) to obtain an Okanogan County Agricultural Burn Permit before burning.

Property owners issued an Okanogan County Agricultural Burn Permit shall call the Okanogan County Sheriff Dispatch at 509-422-7232 option #4 before conducting any burning, and have on-site sufficient water supply and fire tools to man the burn at all times until fire is fully extinguished.  The permit shall be onsite and available to authorities during the agricultural burn.

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If you do see a wildfire call 911 or Okanogan County Sheriff's Dispatch at 509-422-7232 option 4.

REMEMBER when reporting a wildfire Location, Location, Location, know your surroundings.