Both Clallam and Jefferson counties have enacted their annual burn bans early due to the hot and dry weather the state is already experiencing.
The burns bans are in effect for all land clearing in both counties, and went into effect on Friday. The Jefferson County ban will continue through Sept. 30, while Clallam County’s will continue through Oct. 1.
The burn bans still allow for small outdoor recreational fires that are contained in a fire place, barbeque grill or barbeque pit and if the fire is less than 3-feet in diameter and less than 2-feet tall for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking or warmth, county fire marshals said.
Fires used for debris or rubbish disposal are not considered recreational fires and are illegal, including the use of burn barrels, said Brian Tracer, Jefferson County fire marshal.
The state Department of Natural Resources also moved Jefferson and Clallam counties into the moderate fire danger rating and banned all outdoor burning on DNR forestlands on Wednesday, according to a press release.
“Washington state is experiencing a historic drought that is increasing fire danger across our state,” said Hillary Franz, commissioner of public lands, in the release.
“We are implementing burn restrictions, but we can’t fully protect our forests or our communities without the public’s help.”
Fuels are in drier conditions this year than what is typical of July or August due to a lack of precipitation across the state, and with models projecting 110-degree temperatures or more in some parts of the state this coming weekend, the situation is ripe for severe fire danger, officials said.
“Hotter and drier weather conditions leave us more vulnerable to fast-spreading fires,” Franz said. “I’m urging Washingtonians this weekend to avoid activities that could accidentally spark a wildfire, especially outdoor fires. It could prove disastrous.”
State and county fire officials do have the right to implement more stringent burn bans throughout the summer and year, if fire danger risk increases, they said.
“If conditions arise the restrictions may be upgraded to a high fire danger. This will prohibit all outdoor burning which includes recreational fires,” said George Bailey, Clallam County fire marshal.
When a declaration of extreme fire danger is in effect, it is unlawful for any person to sell, transfer, discharge, ignite or explode any fireworks, display fireworks or special effects within unincorporated Jefferson County, Tracer said.
More information on the Clallam County burn ban can be found at www.clallam.net.
More information on the Jefferson County burn ban can be found at https://www.ejfr.org/.
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Jefferson County reporter Zach Jablonski can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 5, or at zjablonski@peninsuladailynews.com.
