FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 17, 2010
No campfires at Leader Lake Campground
High heat and conditions too extreme for recreational fire
OLYMPIA – Effective 12:01 a.m. August 18, 2010, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will no longer allow campfires in Leader Lake Campground in Okanogan County due to extremely hot and dry conditions.
The public also is reminded that individual campgrounds may ban campfires on a case-by-case basis. Check with the campground host before lighting a campfire.
In an effort to reduce human-caused wildfires, DNR issued a statewide burn ban on all DNR-protected lands, effective July 15, 2010, through September 30, 2010. The ban includes all forestlands in Washington except for federal lands. Campgrounds may have additional burn restrictions in place.
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
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