The holiday marks the beginning of summer and the traditional wildfire season
Memorial Day Weekend and the start of summer means more Washingtonians will spend time outdoors, recreating and exploring public lands, traveling across the state, or tending to outdoor chores.
Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove and the Department of Natural Resources want to remind people to keep wildfire risk and fire safety on their minds.
"I, like many people in the Evergreen State, have enjoyed exploring Washington's abundant natural wonders on long holiday weekends. For others, it's an opportunity to get a jump start on yard work or other land management needs," Commissioner Upthegrove said. "But Memorial Day Weekend also marks the start of warmer weather - which means we need to start thinking about how we interact with the landscape when we're out recreating. Please don't set the state on fire."
With rain recently in the forecast, people might not yet be focused on being cautious about ignition potential. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) continues to see a high number of debris burns-related ignitions - of the 190 fires on DNR fire-protected land so far in 2025, more than 45 percent have been from escaped debris burns. And historically, between 85 and 90 percent of all wildfires are human caused. While not every human-caused fire can be prevented, many can.
"Don't be another spark this Memorial Day Weekend," Commissioner Upthegrove said. "Being responsible while out recreating, doing yard work, operating machinery or sitting around the campfire are easy steps we all can take to help keep wildland firefighters safe and protect lands and lives."
Some important fire safety tips to remember:
- Call before you burn - if you're planning on burning, check with your forestry office, fire district or air protection authority to learn if there are any burn restrictions in place and whether a permit is required;
- Never leave a burn pile unattended - have a hose ready should the fire escape the boundaries;
- Watch the weather - windy conditions around a debris burn pile can cause nearby trees and grasses to catch fire and spread quickly;
- Play it safe - if you have any doubts about keeping a fire contained, whether it's a campfire or burn pile, don't light the fire.
- Douse your campfire with water before leaving it - if it's still warm to the touch, it's not safe to leave;
- When fire restrictions are in place or the area you want to camp is showing signs of drought - dry grass and other flashy fuels - you should consider campfire alternatives;
- Never drag chains connecting a trailer to your car - the sparks can start a wildfire; and
- Target shooting into areas with dry grass is never a good idea - exploding targets are illegal on DNR-protected lands and should be used with extreme caution where allowed.
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MEDIA CONTACT
Thomas Kyle-Milward
Wildfire Communications Manager
360-529-7184