OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Washington is now under a statewide burn ban amid serious drought conditions.

Governor Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency along with the ban on Saturday, Aug. 1.

Most outdoor and agricultural burning is now prohibited through Sept. 30.

The ban includes yard debris, trash disposal, land clearing, bonfires and campfires that aren’t contained in structures. But the governor’s order does not supersede Whatcom County’s current Stage 2 burn ban, which prohibits campfires even in designated fire rings throughout unincorporated parts of the county.

Gas or propane stoves and grills over non-flammable surfaces are still allowed in areas without vegetation and proper clearance.

Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove says 2026 has already been one of the state’s busiest wildfire years on record, even before August started.

“Our firefighters are already stretched thin across the state, and with more heat and wind expected this weekend and for the rest of the summer, any new spark on our tinder dry landscapes can lead to another devastating wildfire,” Upthegrove said in a news release. “I’m urging all Washingtonians to not be that spark.”

According to the Washington state Department of Natural Resources, 12 large fires across Washington are currently burning more than 200,000 acres.