Burn bans imposed on state, county lands

Wahkiakum County and the Washington Department of Natural Resources on Monday announced bans on outdoor burning on areas in their jurisdictions.

Effective Monday, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) expanded last week’s burn ban from DNR-protected lands in eastern Washington to include those west of the Cascades. The statewide burn ban will run from June 22 through September 30, 2015.

The agency cited dry weather conditions and mounting fire danger.

“Westside forests are drying out and the outlook is for continued warm, dry weather,” Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark said in the agency's announcement. “These conditions make it clear it’s time for a statewide burn ban.”

The statewide burn ban applies to state forests, state parks and forestlands under DNR fire protection. It does not include federally owned lands such as national forests, national parks, national wildlife refuges or other areas administered by federal agencies.

In 2015 so far, there have been 306 wildfire starts throughout the state. Last year’s fire season was the biggest on record in Washington, with the largest state fire ever, the Carlton Complex, destroying more than 250,000 acres. More than 1 million acres of Washington’s landscape has been consumed by wildfire since 2009.

The statewide burn ban applies to all outdoor burning on DNR-protected forestlands with the exception of recreational fires in approved fire pits within designated state, county, municipal and other campgrounds. Charcoal briquettes may be used only in approved campground fire pits.

Fireworks and incendiary devices, such as exploding targets, sky lanterns, or tracer ammunition, are illegal on all DNR-protected forestlands.

Also on Monday, Wahkiakum County enacted a ban on all outdoor burning as of July 1. This includes all land clearing, residential and silvicultural burning. This burn ban does not apply to federally managed land within Wahkiakum County.

Recreational campfires are allowed if built in improved fire pits in designated campgrounds, such as those typically found in local, county, and state parks and in commercial campgrounds. On private land, campfires are permitted with the landowner’s permission if built in an approved manner:

• In a metal, stone or masonry lined fire pit such as those seen in approved campgrounds.

• They may not exceed three feet in diameter,

• They must have an area at least 10 feet around them cleared of all flammable material and at least 20 feet of clearance from overhead fuels.

• Campfires must be attended at all times by a responsible person at least 16 years old with the ability and tools to extinguish the fire--a shovel and either five gallons of water or a connected and charged water hose.

People must completely extinguish campfires by pouring water or moist soil in them and stirring with a shovel until all parts are cool to the touch. The use of self-contained camp stoves is encouraged as an alternative.

For more information on local fire restrictions, contact the Department of Natural Resources: Pacific Cascade Regional Office (360) 577-2025, or Wahkiakum County Building & Planning (360) 795-3067.