Jefferson County Department of Emergency Management (DEM) cautions all county residents to be mindful of the updated Burn Ban issued by Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on June 26.
The heightened ban states, in part, “. . .outdoor burning, including campfires in fire pits and the use of charcoal briquettes is banned on all forest lands within the State of Washington under DNR’s fire protection through Sept. 30, 2015.”
The same emergency rule banning fires in recreational firepits, using wood or charcoal, applies locally.
The Jefferson County Fire Chief's Association, which includes District 1 (East Jefferson Fire Rescue), District 2 (Quilcene Fire Rescue), District 3 (Port Ludlow Fire Rescue), District 4 (Brinnon Fire Department) and District 5 (Discovery Bay) have issued burn bans that include recreational fires, wood or charcoal.
“There is growing concern about wildland-interface fires occurring in neighborhoods in the county with our current high temperatures and dry conditions,” said Bob Hamlin on July 2, Jefferson County Emergency Management director.
“Additionally, current conditions are a bit windy on the peninsula and Fourth of July celebrations are ahead of us,” Hamlin stated.
Here is a wrap on local and regional burn bans:
OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK
With the July Fourth holiday weekend approaching, Olympic National Park officials remind the public that there a ban on open fires in the park’s wilderness backcountry, including all locations along the coast.
Campfires are permitted only in established fire grates at established front country campgrounds. Camp stoves may still be used in the park's wilderness backcountry, but should be operated well away from flammable vegetation and forest litter.
OLYMPIC NATIONAL FOREST
Olympic National Forest has implemented fire restrictions: no building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire, unless the fire is in an established fireplace approved or constructed by a public agency and located within a developed recreation area. Briquette fires are not allowed in the restricted areas.
Campfires, including wood or charcoal fires, are allowed only in developed campgrounds within fire rings. Campfires are not allowed in the following campgrounds due to the extreme fire potential: Lena Lake and Elkhorn campgrounds on the Hood Canal Ranger District; Campbell Tree Grove and Littleton Horse Camp campgrounds on the Pacific Ranger District. (These campground rules are subject to change.)
Stove fires are allowed. Stove fires are fires built inside an enclosed stove or grill, a portable brazier or a pressurized liquid gas stove; these include space-heating devices. Pressurized liquid gas stoves are still allowed.
STATE DNR LAND
The state Department of Natural Resources has banned all fires on state land it manages through Sept. 30, 2015. This burn ban prohibits campfires in state forests, state parks and anywhere else on the 13 million acres of Washington forestlands DNR protects from wildfire.
The expanded statewide ban prohibits all fires, including wood and charcoal fires in designated campground fire pits or campfire rings. Gas and propane cook stoves are allowed.
The DNR burn ban does not cover federal lands such as national forests, national parks, national wildlife refuges or other areas administered by federal agencies.
JEFFERSON COUNTY/PORT TOWNSEND
Effective June 29, no outdoor burning in Jefferson County is allowed, including campfires in county parks. This total burn ban includes all outdoor fires and wood or charcoal briquette barbeque grills. The only barbeque grills currently allowed are gas-fired.
The City of Port Townsend also has year-round rules against outdoor burning.
POPE RESOURCES
Some companies have implemented bans of their own. Olympic Resource Management, a Pope Resources company, announced in a press release that it is temporarily closing all general public access to its Hood Canal Tree Farm properties in Jefferson, Kitsap and Mason counties on June 26.
These properties include access to the recreation areas of Sandy Shore, Horseshoe and Ludlow lakes near Port Ludlow. Pope Resources did, however, say that access to Tarboo Lake would still be open since it is on a county road, although timberland and trails to each side are closed.
NO FIREWORKS
Fireworks and incendiary devices, such as exploding targets, sky lanterns, or tracer ammunition, are always illegal on all DNR-protected forestlands, including state parks.
All fireworks are banned from national forests, national parks, state parks and county parks.
The City of Port Townsend has a fireworks ban.
Emergency responders urge that people who do use legal fireworks, where they are allowed, use them carefully with the "Three B's" in mind: Be Prepared with water nearby and pets indoors; Be safe - only adults should light fireworks; and Be responsible - fully extinguish and clean up fireworks debris.
In terms of reporting problems with fireworks, it is important to remember that calling 911 should be reserved for: injuries, fires, and the in-progress use or presence of illegal (explosive) fireworks. Non-emergency calls or questions about fireworks are best made to local law enforcement or fire districts, not the emergency 911 number, according to the Washington State Fire Marshal's Office.
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