With this long stretch of warm sunny days, the risk of a potentially damaging fire has begun to increase, says San Juan County Fire Marshal Steve Marler.

“While many parts of the county are still showing the effects of the delayed start of summer weather, other areas of the islands are starting to dry out,” he said. “To help remind everyone that we all need to be careful to protect our beautiful islands from a devastating wild fire, the fire districts on Orcas, San Juan, Lopez and Shaw Islands have agreed to change the county’s fire risk from low to moderate.”

Residents and visitors are asked to be extra vigilant with fire.  Make sure that recreational fires are not larger than two feet in diameter, and are completely out before being left unattended. If you use a fireplace, be sure that the chimney has a spark arrestor screen. Make sure that your home and neighborhood are “FireWise” and ready to survive a wildland fire.  Tips about how to participate in the FireWise program can be found at www.firewise.org.

For more local information, contact your island’s fire department, visit www.sjcfiremarshal.org or call 378-5334.