FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 22, 2009
Fire danger increases in Southeast Washington
Campfires banned in eight counties
OLYMPIA – Due to extreme fire danger, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has banned all campfires and other open flame fires on DNR-protected land in Douglas, Chelan, Kittitas, Yakima, Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, and Asotin Counties.
Effective 12:01 a.m., Wednesday, July 22, DNR’s Southeast Region ban prohibits all open fires on all DNR-protected lands except the following:
- open fires in DNR-managed campgrounds within approved fire rings,
- open fires in commercially and privately owned campgrounds with approved fire rings by the DNR and within DNR’s protection area,
- open fires in Washington State Park campgrounds within approved fire rings in DNR’s protection area.
All other outdoor burning on DNR-protected lands is prohibited.
This ban applies to all private and state forestland and all adjoining properties within these counties. The only exception is the use of self-contained, pressurized liquid fuel stoves with an easy, accessible turn-off valve, and only if it is placed on a platform or ground cleared of woody and leafy material that is five feet in diameter.
The public is reminded, before they burn, check with local authorities on local burn restrictions. 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: James Munroe, Fire Protection Coordinator, (509) 925-0948, james.munroe@dnr.wa.gov .
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