County partially lifts ban on outdoor burning

Wahkiakum County officials are repealing part of the existing ban on outdoor burning.

Starting at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, county officials will allow recreational fires if built in approved fire pits or 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 ten 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 who start recreational fires must completely extinguish the fires by pouring water or moist soil on 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.

All land clearing, residential and silvicultural burning is banned until midnight Sept. 30.

The lifting of the current county imposed burn ban does not apply to Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and federally managed land within Wahkiakum County.

For more information on local fire restrictions:

--Department of Natural Resources: Pacific Cascade Regional Office (360) 577-2025, or

--Wahkiakum County Building & Planning: (360) 795-3067.

For daily updates on burn restrictions, call 1-800-323-BURN or visit DNR’s website at: www2.wadnr.gov/burn-risk then click on fire information in the far right corner. One can also check with Southwest Clean Air Agency at http://www.swcleanair.org.