In Effect July 15 – September 30, 2010

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced there will be a statewide burn ban on all DNR-protected lands July 15, 2010, through September 30, 2010. This means all forestlands in Washington except for federal lands.

“The threat of wildfires from escaped outdoor burning is high during the summer months due to unusual fire danger,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark. “Wildfires are dangerous for people and property and result in large expenditures of public funding that can be avoided through prudent actions to prevent them.”

The ban applies to all outdoor burning, including currently permitted burns, with the following exceptions:

1. Recreational fires in approved fire pits within designated state, county, municipal or other campgrounds, or
2. DNR-approved prescribed fire, implemented to enhance or restore fire-dependent ecosystems and forest health, when enhancement and restoration by prescribed fire can only be accomplished successfully during the period of time from July 15th, 2010, through September 30th, 2010, or
3. As approved in writing by DNR when there are compelling reasons for an exception.

The use of gas and propane self-contained stoves and barbeques will continue to be allowed under the ban.

This burn ban takes precedence over and supersedes all other burn bans currently in effect on forestlands except federal lands.

Media Contact: Janet Pearce, Communications and Outreach, 360-902-1122, janet.pearce@dnr.wa.gov

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Read the press release here.

Visit the Clallam County burn restriction website.

Clallam Count Urban Growth Areas, Port Angeles, Joyce, Sekiu, Forks, Carlsborg, and Sequim are restricted from outdoor burning through state law.

Contact your local Fire Districts for burning regulations and permit requirements.

Leon W. Smith, CBO

Building Official / Fire Marshal

source: Press release dataed September 30, 2009

For more information, contact Olympic Region Clean Air Agency at 360-539-7610 or Leon W. Smith (CBO) at 360-417-2314.

Though temperatures have cooled off since the days of triple digits, the fire safety burn bans remain in effect throughout ORCAA’s six-county jurisdiction. The current bans were implemented by the Washington Department of Natural Resources and county fire agencies because of the threat of wildfires.

The fire danger remains moderate to high throughout Washington state – including in the Olympic Region – because of the lack of moisture this summer. Little rainfall over the last couple months means forests and fields loaded with dry fuel. As a result, the fire safety burn bans remain in effect. The bans will NOT BE LIFTED until the fire dangers diminish, meaning fall at the earliest when autumn rains return.

ORCAA offers several suggestions on Alternatives to Burning yard waste. You can find those options here:

Alternatives to Outdoor Burning

Grays Harbor County
Thurston County
Port Angeles
Port Townsend
Shelton

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Leon W. Smith, Clallam County Fire Marshal, is announcing that a county-wide burn ban has been upgraded to HIGH FIRE DANGER to take effect immediately. This upgrade will prohibit all outdoor burning which includes recreational fires. The exception to this is within the Olympic National Park and other controlled campgrounds.

This decision was made due to the dry season’s continued fire hazard presence and the upgrading of the fire hazard to High by the DNR.

the Clallam County Fire Marshal’s office works closely with local fire districts and local fire departments, and strongly urges all county resident and property owners to be attentive to the condition of their properties through proactive fire prevention measures.

For more information contact Leon W. Smith CBO, Building Official/Fire Marshal, 360-417-2314

This burn ban is strongly supported by the Clallam County Chiefs Association. Every summer, emergency response agencies respond to a significant number of outdoor burn incidents and complaints. A majority of these responses are due to confusion with the current status of burning regulations. In order to reduce the confusion that has surrounded multiple burn bans during previous summer periods, this ban will take effect annually on July 1st, ending October 1st.

This burn ban applies to outdoor burning only. Recreational fires are still allowed unless further banned by extreme conditions. As has been the law for many years, burn barrels are illegal in the State of Washington and there is no burning allowed in the City of Port Angeles or any other designated Urban Growth Area.

For more information about the burn status in your county, visit DNR’s fire safety page here.

For additional information, please contact Olympic Region Clean Air Agency at 1-800-422-5623.