'Burn Ban' Now In Effect In Sammamish, Issaquah

SAMMAMISH, WA — It rained in Puget Sound on Tuesday morning for the first time in about a month, but don't expect that light drizzle to do anything about the drought conditions in the region.

Eastside Fire and Rescue is trying to get ahead of wildfire season by implementing a modified burn ban called a "burn moratorium." It went into effect on Saturday and means that most residents in Sammamish and Issaquah will need a permit for some fire activities.

The permits are free, and you can head to this link to find an application. The permit will allow you to do outdoor cooking and have campfires during the moratorium, which lasts June 15 to Sept. 30.

The permit applies to fires with dry, seasoned wood that are for either cooking or recreation, like campfires. Fires cannot be larger than 3 feet wide and 2 feet high. You can only have fires in containers, like a fire ring or barbecue pit.

What's not included? You don't need a permit for cooking with either charcoal or propane. You also can't use fire to clear land or brush — that practice is permanently banned in King County.

One reminder: the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency can overrule the Eastside Fire permit. If a PSCAA burn ban goes into effect, any type of fire in King County will be illegal. The King County Fire Marshal may also issue a ban in unincorporated parts of the county.