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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If you have questions or would like to obtain a DNR burning permit for silvicultural burning, please call Olympic Region DNR at 360-374-6131.

Contact Olympic Region Clean Air Agency for more information.

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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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.