DNR and county officials to begin burn restrictions in Pacific County

OLYMPIA - Effective 12:01 a.m., Saturday, July 18, 2009, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in cooperation with officials from Pacific County, will restrict all land clearing, residential, and silvicultural (forestry) burning on forestlands until further notice.

Silvicultural burning is usually associated with timber operations or other forest practices on unimproved or forested land. This burn restriction will coincide with a county burn ban that will go into effect on improved property in Wahkiakum County. The restrictions may be extended depending on fire weather conditions. These restrictions do not extend to federally managed lands.

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Recreational campfires are allowed if built in improved fire pits in designated campgrounds, such as those typically found in local, county, and state parks and in commercial campgrounds. On private land, campfires are permitted with the landowner's permission if built in the following manner:

• In a metal, stone or masonry-lined fire pit, such as those seen in approved campgrounds.
• Not exceeding three feet in diameter.
• Have an area at least 10 feet around the campfire cleared of all flammable material and have at least 30 feet of clearance from overhead fuels (such as tree limbs).
• Attended at all times by a responsible person at least 16 years old with the ability and tools to extinguish the fire, such as a shovel and either five gallons of water or a connected and charged water hose.

Always completely extinguish campfires by pouring water or moist soil in them and stirring with a shovel until all parts are cool to the touch. The use of self-contained camp stoves is encouraged as an alternative. The use of burn barrels is prohibited by law in Washington.

For more information on local fire restrictions

Washington State Department of Natural Resources: Pacific Cascade Regional Office

(360) 577-2025

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.

For additional information, check with Olympic Region Clean Air Agency by calling 1-800-422-5623 or visiting their website at www.orcaa.org.  

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.