MEDIA ADVISORY
June 10, 2011
Outdoor controlled burn planned on Olympic Peninsula
Burning of timber harvest debris may produce smoke column visible from Clallam Bay and Port Angeles
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) plans to issue a permit for a private landowner’s controlled outdoor burn of several tons of timber harvest debris on a 57-acre site on the northwestern Olympic Peninsula. The burn may occur as early as this weekend if weather, fire safety and air quality conditions are favorable. It is possible that the smoke column could be visible from Clallam Bay, Port Angeles or sections of State Routes 112 and 113.
DNR is conducting a statewide forest biomass assessment to determine how much biomass, such as timber slash, would be economically and ecologically available to supply emerging technologies to produce aviation jet fuel and other high-value uses of the product.
| Who: | DNR |
| What: | Planned permitting of a controlled burn of timber harvest slash |
| When: | As weather, fire safety and air quality conditions permit during June |
| Where: | State trust land, near Milepost 28.7, SR 112, east of the SR 112 and SR 113 intersection |
| Why: | Safe disposal of timber slash that has not been purchased for biomass or other uses |
| NOTE: | Citizens should call 800-562-6010, or 911, to report forest fires. |
Statewide burn ban to begin July 1
A statewide burn ban on all DNR-protected lands is scheduled to begin July 1, 2011, and continue through September 30, 2011. This includes all forestlands in Washington under DNR fire protection, including currently permitted burns. Exceptions allowed will be:
- Recreational fires in approved fire pits within designated state, county, municipal or other campgrounds.
- DNR-approved prescribed fires to enhance or restore fire-dependent ecosystems and forest health, and 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.
- 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.
For daily updates on burn restrictions, call 1-800-323-BURN or visit DNR’s webpage showing fire danger and burning restrictions by county: http://fortress.wa.gov/dnr/firedanger/BurnRisk.aspx .
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 Contact: Bob Redling, Senior Communications Manager, 360-902-1149, bob.redling@dnr.wa.gov
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