Burn Ban Issued Across Washington State

The Department of Natural Resources issued an updated burn ban to include all lands protected by the DNR in Washington state. The ban will be in effect until September 30 and includes prescribed burns and campfires, even in developed campgrounds under state, local or private control.

In a public release, Peter Goldmark, the commissioner of public lands said, “The risk of wildfire is unusually high and the consequences could be catastrophic. We have hundreds of firefighters fighting two major wildfires and numerous smaller fires in Washington state. Our resources are stretched thin.”

The release also states:

Most fires are caused by human activities. Some of the most destructive fire threats to our state’s wildlands and homes in rural areas can be traced to three sources: carelessly tended outdoor fires, indefensible home sites, and sparks caused by equipment or vehicles.