Our next Board Meeting is November 13th at 5pm - At the Winthrop Library also via Zoom
Burn Ban Update - October 2025
All burn restrictions have been lifted.
Below are some resources if you have additional questions. In addition, based on conversations with the DNR (Dept. of Natural Resources), the County, and the OCD (Okanogan Conservation District), we've provided more detail below on the regulations that the SMRC community needs to adhere to during burn bans and restrictions. We hope the information helps to explain things a bit better and alleviate any confusion.
Resources for Additional Questions
For questions about burning under DNR regs, please visit https://fortress.wa.gov/dnr/protection/firedanger/.
For rules regarding pile burning: https://dnr.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-03/rp_burn_need_burn_permit.pdf.
For more information about permitting visit: https://dnr.wa.gov/wildfire-resources/outdoor-burning/burn-permits.
For Okanogan County burning information, visit: https://www.okanogancounty.org/government/emergency_management/new_page/index.php
Background Information: SMRC Must Abide by DNR and County Regulations
SMRC is located on property that pays the DNR fees for fire protection, and as a result we are obliged to abide by DNR burn restrictions or bans, regardless of whether the county or other overlapping jurisdictions have differing bans or restrictions in place. For example, if Okanogan County's burn ban has been lifted, and DNR's hasn't, burning isn't allowed until the DNR burn ban is lifted. If DNR implements a burn ban or burn restrictions before Okanogan County, we have to abide by DNR's regs. In addition, if Okanogan County implements a burn ban or restrictions and the DNR has not, we must still abide by the county's decision.
To have a legal burn on property that is paying the DNR fee, both Okanogan County and DNR must have lifted their respective restrictions. That is the case as of October 15th this year and why the burn restrictions have been lifted for communities like SMRC. All fires still must follow DNR burn regulations (https://dnr.wa.gov/wildfire-resources/outdoor-burning/burn-permits).