WA Burn Bans

In effect July 1 – September 30, 2011

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced there will be a statewide burn ban on all DNR-protected lands July 1, 2011, through September 30, 2011. This means all forestlands in Washington under DNR fire protection; the burn ban does not apply to federal lands.
The threat of wildfires from escaped outdoor burning is high during the summer months due to dry forest vegetation. Each year, DNR strives to keep all wildfires under 10 acres. Last year, DNR had 71 wildfire starts simply from escaped outdoor burn piles, which burned approximately 153 acres.

“Wildfires are dangerous for people and property and result in large expenditures of public funding that can be avoided through prevention,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark. The ban will apply to all outdoor burning on DNR-protected forestlands, including currently permitted burns, with the following exceptions:

1. Recreational fires in approved fire pits within designated state, county, municipal or other campgrounds, and
2. DNR-approved prescribed fires, 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 1, 2011 through September 30, 2011, and
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.
When implemented, the burn ban will take precedence over and supersede all other burn bans currently in effect on DNR-protected forestlands. The burn ban does not apply to federal lands.

DNR’s wildfire mission
Administered by Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark, DNR is responsible for preventing and fighting wildfires on 12.7 million acres of private, state and tribal-owned forestlands. DNR is the state’s largest on-call fire department, with over 1,000 employees trained and available to be dispatched to fires as needed. During fire season, this includes over 700 DNR employees who have other permanent jobs with the agency and about 375 seasonal workers. Additionally, Department of Correction inmates participate in the DNR correctional camps program. DNR also participates in Washington’s coordinated interagency approach to firefighting.
Media Contact: Janet Pearce, Communications and Outreach, 360-902-1122, janet.pearce@dnr.wa.gov

source: http://www.dnr.wa.gov/RecreationEducation/News/Pages/2011_05_06_burnban_nr.aspx

Effective at one minute after midnight, Wednesday, September 22, 2010, restrictions on all outdoor burning are removed. Recent rainfall and the projected rain trend has reduced the thread of a wildfire to an appropriate level throughout the County. Read the press release below or download the document here.

September 21, 2010 - WA state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has lifted the statewide burn ban on DNR protected lands today. The ban was scheduled to conclude as early as September 30, 2010. However, heavy rains and recent low temperatures have eased fire danger.

However, your specific county or fire district may have existing seasonal bans in place. Contact your local air authority and fire district to determine if burn restrictions still exist in your area. Locate the telephone number and/or website for your air authority here.

Visit the WA DNR web site for more information :

source

As of July 21, 2010 Okanogan Co is in Fire Safety Burn Ban, bbq and small, attended recreation fires are allowed on private lands.  Contact local DNR, Forest Service, or State Parks for burning regulation on their lands.

Effective 9:00 AM today, a Stage 1 Burn Ban is declared for all of Yakima County (except land within the exterior boundaries of the Yakama Indian Reservation) – BOTH the Upper and the Lower Yakima County areas.  This curtailment is currently projected to extend until conditions improve.

Explanation: The Air Pollution Control Officer of the Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency (YRCAA) has declared this burn ban due to impaired air quality and associated adverse health effects caused by high levels of fine particulate. The high levels of fine particulate, caused primarily by wood stoves and outdoor burning, are trapped close to the ground by persistent inversion and inadequate ventilation.

Air quality may worsen – ventilation is poor for today and tomorrow; YRCAA staff will continue to monitor the situation to determine if and when the burn ban can be lifted or elevated to a Stage 2 Burn Ban.

Please check our website for the latest information:

http://www.yakimacleanair.org , or call the YRCAA office at (509) 834-2050

Please Note: This applies to all areas of Yakima County except for Yakama Indian Reservation lands, which are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, under the Federal Air Rules for Reservations Regulations (FARR). For more information, visit the FARR website at www.epa.gov/r10earth/FARR.htm .

During a Stage 1 Burn Ban:

1. All Outdoor Burning, including Agricultural burning, is prohibited;
2. The use of any fireplace, uncertified wood stove or uncertified fireplace insert is prohibited unless it is the only adequate means of heating a home;
3. Certified wood stove, certified fireplace insert or pellet stove/insert use is allowed;
4. No excessive smoke is allowed from any wood burning device beyond a 20-minute start-up; and
5. All violations of the burn ban are subject to civil penalty.

The Air Pollution Control Officer strongly encourages all Yakima County residents to refrain from burning – even those legally able to do so – until air quality improves and the risk to public health is diminished.