PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County Fire Marshal Phil Cecere escalated the county fire danger level from high to very high, following fire levels established by the state Department of Natural Resources.
“The decision was made in consultation with the Jefferson County Fire Chiefs Association,” Cecere said.
Brinnon Fire Chief Tim Manly is the association president.
The escalation follows months of drought, as well as a risk of lightning strikes this week.
There are currently a number of large fires burning across Oregon and, to a slightly lesser extent, eastern Washington, several of which were started by lightning strikes, Cecere said.
He added that Mason County is set at the same fire danger level.
“I believe that we are at an appropriate level at this point,” Cecere said in his Monday presentation to the Board of County Commissioners. “I continue to track this.”
Cecere’s presentation detailed reasons for increasing the fire danger level, including dry atmosphere and some risk of lightning.
Additionally, he shared the updated list of restrictions with the three county commissioners.
A list of fire risk levels and their associated regulations can be found at https://www.ejfr.org/information/burn-ban-guide.
The current danger level prohibits yard debris or yard clearing fires, recreational wood fires, wood or charcoal cooking (open flame, or enclosed, use of open flame devices. For example, no tiki torches, no liquid fuel candles, no gas or propane weed burners, and no discharging fireworks of any kind).
These regulations are the same as those present during high risk, but with the addition of a restriction on the use of charcoal for residential use.
The only burning devices allowed are propane fire barbecues and wood pellet fire smokers.
“Other than that, all other outside burning activity is not allowed at this level,” Cecere said.
Complications
An additional layer of complexity compounds the situation as adjacent fire agencies may not be able to help Jefferson County as they otherwise might. That depends on their incident engagement levels. The same goes for Jefferson County, which may be limited in its capacity to extend its support to vulnerable adjacent counties, East Jefferson Fire Rescue Chief Bret Black said.
“Our mutual aid system is dependent in our county on other adjacent counties and agencies, not committed (to other fire incidents) — in order for us to get help,” Black said. “I’m looking at pages of major incidents in our region, where we all have resources, including us, committed to supporting these other agencies.
“Our back end, if you will, is pretty stressed right now, because we are already committed to helping our neighbors to the south and to the north. It’s a brittle system that depends on receiving help from adjacent agencies.”
Black recently noticed a rock sparking when knocked by his weed whacker during some routine yard maintenance. A good reminder to be mindful of the current atmospheric threat, he said.
“When I look at the seven-day significant wildfire synopsis that’s put out by the region coordination center, (today) and Wednesday have a moderate level of wildfire threat. So we want to be aware of that.”
For updates on danger risk levels, go to https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/1690/Fire-Danger-Risk-Levels.
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Reporter Elijah Sussman can be reached by email at elijah.sussman@sequimgazette.com.
