FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1, 2010
Outdoor burning restricted in Skamania County
OLYMPIA – Effective 12:01 a.m., Thursday, July 1, 2010, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in cooperation with Skamania County Board of Commissioners, emergency service officials, and the Southwest Clean Air Agency, will restrict all land clearing and silvicultural burning on state-protected forestlands in Skamania County. The burning restriction will last until September 30, 2010.
Silvicultural burning is usually associated with timber operations or other forest practices on unimproved or forested land. This burn restriction will coincide with the county burn ban that will go into effect on improved property in Skamania County. These restrictions may be extended by DNR, depending on fire weather conditions. These restrictions do not extend to federally-managed lands.
Recreational campfires are allowed if built in approved fire pits 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 written permission if built in the following approved manner:
- In a metal, stone or masonry-lined fire pit, such as those seen in approved campgrounds.
- Not exceeding three feet in diameter.
- Have an area of at least 10 feet around the campfire, cleared of all flammable material and at least 30 feet of clearance from overhead fuels (such as tree limbs).
- Attended at all times by a responsible person at least 16 years old with the ability and tools to extinguish the fire, such as a shovel and either five gallons of water or a connected and charged water hose.
Completely extinguish campfires by pouring water or moist soil in 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.
For more information on local fire restrictions:
Department of Natural Resources: Pacific Cascade Regional Office, 360-577-2025
Local Fire Districts: Emergency pages of the local telephone book
Local Fire Departments: Government pages of the local telephone book
Daily updates on burn restrictions are available at 1-800-323-BURN or on DNR’s website at www.dnr.wa.gov , then click on ‘fire information and prevention’ and go to ‘wildfire related maps.’ The ‘burn risk map’ link is in the bottom right-hand corner. The direct link is: http://fortress.wa.gov/dnr/firedanger/BurnRisk.aspx
You can also check with Southwest Clean Air Agency by calling 1-800-633-0709 or visiting their website at www.swcleanair.org .
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 in Washington. DNR is the state’s largest on-call fire department. During fire season, this includes more than 700 DNR employees who have other permanent jobs with the agency and about 375 seasonal workers. DNR also participates in Washington’s coordinated interagency approach to firefighting.
Media Contacts:
Janet Pearce, Communications and Outreach, 360-902-1122, janet.pearce@dnr.wa.gov
Russ Hovey, Fire Prevention Coordinator, DNR Pacific Cascade Region, 360-575-5085
Marlon Morat, Skamania County, 509-427-3920
# # #