The fire pits at Golden Gardens Park in Ballard and Alki Beach in West Seattle are off-limits starting Aug. 7, after Seattle and King County declared a Stage 2 Burn Ban that prohibits all outdoor recreational fires until further notice.
Seattle Fire has responded to more than 350 bark and brush fires citywide since Memorial Day, according to a Seattle Fire Department blog post published Aug. 6. That surge, combined with continued hot and dry weather and the deployment of local wildland firefighting crews to fires elsewhere in the state, prompted the countywide ban.
Seattle Parks and Recreation confirmed the beach-fire shutdown on X on Aug. 6, writing that there will be no beach fires at Alki or Golden Gardens until the ban is lifted.
What's banned
All outdoor fires using chopped firewood or charcoal in open pits, campfires, backyard fire pits, cooking fires and ceremonial fires. The ban took effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday, Aug. 7, and has no set end date.
What's still allowed
Gas and propane grills, charcoal in a contained grill (not an open pit), propane fire tables, propane patio warmers and self-contained wood pellet grills placed on concrete or another non-combustible surface. All devices must be used according to manufacturer instructions.
Enforcement
Anyone who refuses to extinguish a recreational fire when ordered can be charged with a misdemeanor. Seattle firefighters have been directed to put out any illegal fires on sight.
Why the ban happened
The King County ban follows Gov. Bob Ferguson's statewide wildfire emergency declaration, which imposed an outdoor burning ban through Sept. 30. "Our record-setting drought and high winds are creating dangerous conditions across the state," Ferguson said on Aug. 1 when he issued the declaration.
More than 85% of Washington's land is abnormally dry, and wildfire fuel conditions reached levels normally seen in mid-August about a month early this year, according to a July 27 Seattle Times report.
Safety tips from Seattle Fire
- Discard smoking materials safely; do not snuff cigarettes in potted plants.
- Check underneath vehicles to ensure nothing is dragging that could create sparks.
- Avoid parking on dry grass, where hot vehicle components can ignite a fire.
- Call 911 immediately if you see a brush fire.
Residents can monitor fireline.seattle.gov or follow @SeattleParks on X for updates on when the ban will be lifted.
