FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2009
Burn restrictions lifted in Lewis County
Citizens still encouraged to be fire safe
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Lewis County Fire Marshall’s Office are lifting the seasonal burn restrictions effective 12:01 a.m., Thursday, October 1, 2009.
The recent rainfall has increased large woody fuel moistures, and the extended forecast does not seem to indicate an extended period of hot or windy weather. Fire managers would like to stress that good fire prevention practices are still needed.
The best way to keep fires safe and legal is to follow all of the outdoor burning regulations. The public is reminded to completely extinguish fires until they are dead out and cold to the touch. The use of a burn barrel is illegal.
More information on local fire restrictions
Following is a list of phone numbers to obtain more information on outdoor burning rules in Lewis County:
- Lewis County: contact the Lewis County Fire Marshal’s Office at (360) 740-1146 or Southwest Washington Clean Air Agency at 1-800-633-0709 or visit www.swcleanair.org.
- For all silvicultural burning, or burning for forestry purposes call 1-800-323-BURN or visit http://fortress.wa.gov/dnr/firedanger for fire conditions. For more specific information, contact the DNR Pacific Cascade Region Office at (360) 577-2025.
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:
Russ Hovey, DNR Pacific Cascade Region, (360)575-5085, russ.hovey@dnr.wa.gov
Fred Chapman, Lewis County Fire Marshal, (360)740-1146
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