Citing “bone dry” conditions that have left much of the state at high risk entering wildfire season, agencies throughout Washington have announced new fire restrictions set to take effect this week.
On Wednesday, the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced that outdoor burning, campfires, charcoal briquettes and prescribed burns on all forest lands protected by the agency are banned. While the ban is scheduled to expire Sept. 30, the DNR notes the expiration date can be extended or shortened, depending on fire conditions.
“The record-breaking temperatures we are seeing this week have left our state bone dry,” Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz said in a statement. “I am asking everyone in Washington to do their part to protect our firefighters and our communities this summer. Please do not start a fire outside and stay alert when you are outdoors.”
According to the DNR, the recent heat waves have worsened the “risk of continued spread and ignition.” DNR officials recommend those headed outdoors should take precautions to reduce the risk of a fire, which includes being attentive to rapid environmental changes, checking restrictions and conditions, ensuring tow chains are properly secured and remaining on established trails.
Beginning Friday, open fires are prohibited across the Gifford Pinchot National Forest except for metal fire pits or rings in designated recreation sites. Under the restriction, building and tending open fires is not permitted until further notice.
Portable cooking stoves, lanterns and heating devices using liquified or bottled fuel are still allowed. Smoking will be prohibited except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a designated campground or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is cleared of flammable material.
Under the ban, violators are subject to a potential $5,000 fine and up to six months in jail.
Lewis County Fire Marshal Doyle Sanford previously announced a separate ban on outdoor burning on all county-regulated land and private land except for recreational campfires in designated areas, which will be in effect until “conditions improve.” The ban took effect at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday.
“After careful review of the current and extended weather forecast, the Lewis County Commissioners, Community Development Director and Fire Marshal have determined that current weather conditions within Lewis County have created substantial fire dangers,” the announcement reads.
The ban applies to applicants with previously active burn permits.
The Thurston County fire marshal, in consultation with the Thurston County Director of Emergency Services, Department of Natural Resources, and the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA), determined weather conditions within the county meet the fire danger level necessary to enact restrictions on outdoor burning to all lands regulated by Thurston County oin Friday.
The burn ban applies to residential yard waste burning and all land clearing burns. The restrictions on outdoor burning during the summer have resulted in a significant drop in brush fires and property damage each of the past several years, according to fire officials.
“The fire safety burn ban is enacted when weather and fire fuel conditions reach a level of danger that may pose a threat to people and their property,” said Fire Marshal Joshua Cummings. “The Department of Natural Resources has moved their fire risk on public lands in our region to ‘high.’ This triggers the county’s process to enact the fire safety ban to minimize the threat of fires as much as possible through the restriction of residential and land clearing burns.”
At this time, recreational fires are allowed on private residential properties and in established fire rings within official county, state and federal campgrounds in Thurston County. Recreational fires must be contained in approved concrete, stone or metal pits like those commonly found in campgrounds. The use of charcoal briquettes, gas, and propane barbeques will continue to be allowed under the burn ban.
The Thurston County burn ban is effective as of 12:01 a.m., Saturday, July 13, and ending Monday, Sept, 30. More information about burn bans is available at https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/departments/board-county-commissioners/burn-ban-information .
The Chehalis Tribal Department of Natural Resources has also enacted an indefinite ban on burning yard waste, land clearing or lighting fireworks within the Chehalis Reservation. Under the partial burn ban, propane grills, charcoal briquettes and recreational campfires are still allowed in improved barbecues and fire pits. Campfires must be attended to by someone at least 16 years old.
As of Thursday at 2 p.m., the DNR’s fire dashboard does not show a current wildfire in Lewis County, though there are several burning in eastern Washington. There were reports of several small fires — including one on Independence Road at Nelson Road and another on timberland near Pe Ell — on Thursday and Friday.
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