Recent rains and cooler temperatures have prompted the state Department of Natural Resources to rescind the statewide burn ban on DNR-protected lands, but local burn bans remain in place through this month’s end.
The state burn ban, which upgraded in early August because of wildfires in Central Washington, originally was set to expire Sept. 30.
DNR lifted the ban Wednesday.
Jefferson County
East Jefferson Fire-Rescue spokesman Bill Beezley said burn bans in Jefferson County fire districts likely will remain in place until Oct. 1.
“Based on weather conditions, we expect to lift it at that point,” Beezley said.
Small recreational cooking fires are allowed in approved fire pits during burn bans.
Local burn bans apply to larger brush-burning fires, Beezley said.
In Clallam, the burn ban was downgraded from high to moderate Sept. 4.
The downgrade allows recreational fires fewer than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height.
Clallam County Fire Marshal Sheila Roark Miller said the countywide burn ban for larger fires remains in effect through Sept. 30.
For more information, visit www.clallam.net.
Beezley said this summer has been “unusually quiet” from a wildfire perspective, with a “couple small dustups” but no major fires in the area.
Low danger
The DNR on Wednesday listed the fire danger as low in Clallam, Jefferson and 12 other Western Washington counties.
The fire danger was considered moderate in Island, Pend Oreille, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom counties, and high in 19 Eastern Washington counties.
Industrial forest operations on DNR-protected lands remain regulated under the requirements of the Industrial Fire Precaution Level system.
For more information on the DNR system, visit www.tinyurl.com/mpslb58.