How high have your burn piles of natural wood and vegetation grown?

Thanks to the cooling temperatures of fall, fire risk has reduced enough that the State Department of Natural Resources and the Fire Marshal’s Office announces open burning Saturday, Oct. 1.

Residential burn permits, valid through June 30, are $15. Burn piles cannot be more than 10-feet in diameter and a water source or other ready means of controlling the fire, as well as a responsible adult, must be on-site.

Residential burn permits may be purchased in person from Orcas, San Juan, Lopez and Shaw fire departments or at www.sjcfiremarshal.org.

Permits for larger fires require an on-site inspection by your local fire department.