Because of wildfire and public safety concerns in our wooded counties, annual summer-long burn bans take effect this month. Prohibitions on residential outdoor burning in Jefferson and Clallam Counties begin July 1, 2017, while the annual Thurston County Fire-Safety Burn Ban begins Friday, July 14, 2017. These seasonal bans continue through September 30. The fire curtailments an enacted annually as summer’s dry, hot weather creates greater regional fire dangers.

The Fire Safety Burn Bans apply to residential yard-waste burning as well as all Land Clearing Burns. The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has yet to announce the start of the seasonal burn ban on DNR-protected lands, but that restriction is typically implemented by mid-July statewide.

At this time, recreational fires are allowed in all counties on private residential properties and in established fire rings within official county, state or federal campgrounds.

The restrictions on outdoor burning during the summer has resulted in a significant drop in brush fires and property damage each of the past several years, according to fire officials.

To stay up-to-date on the status of burn bans, please register for the ORCAA email news alerts on the ORCAA website (www.orcaa.org) or simply visit this site regularly for news and information on our region’s air quality issues.

For statewide Burn Ban information, visit http://waburnbans.net