Outdoor burning restrictions begin in 5 Puget Sound counties

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources – in cooperation with local fire chiefs and county emergency management officials – has restricted all outdoor burning for land clearing and silvicultural purposes in King, Kitsap, Mason, Pierce, and Snohomish counties.

The restriction, imposed Wednesday, will last until Sept. 30, 2009.

Silvicultural burning is usually associated with timber operations or other forest practices on unimproved or forested land. This burn restriction will coincide with county restrictions affecting improved property in the five counties. These restrictions may be extended depending on fire weather conditions. These restrictions do not extend to federally managed lands.

Recreational campfires are allowed if built in approved 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 of 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;

• Be attended at all times by a responsible person at least 16 years old with the skills and tools to extinguish the fire, such as a shovel and either five gallons of water or a connected and charged water hose.

The DNR says people should completely extinguish a campfire by pouring water or moist soil into it and stirring with a shovel until all parts are cool to the touch. It encourages the use of self-contained camp stoves as an alternative to a fire pit. The use of burn barrels is prohibited in Washington.

For more information on local fire restrictions, contact the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, South Puget Sound Region Office, at (360) 825-1631, the King County Fire Marshal’s Office at (206) 296-6763 and The Pierce County Fire Marshal’s Office at (253) 798-7183.

For daily updates on burn restrictions, call 1-800-323-BURN or visit www2.wadnr.gov/burn-risk, then click on ‘fire information’ in the far right corner.