OLYMPIA – Due to the extremely dry, hot weather, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced today the following changes in campfire restrictions, industrial fire precaution levels (IFPL) and fire danger ratings on DNR-protected lands. These changes come on the heels of the statewide burn ban on all DNR-protected lands signed July 28 by Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz.
Effective
Friday, July 31
Campfires in campgrounds are not allowed in Foothills, Kaniksu, and Upper Basin Fire Danger Rating Areas.
Fire danger will increase from very high to extreme in the Valley Fire Danger Rating Area.
Fire danger will increase from high to very high in the Chelan and Upper Basin Fire Danger Rating Areas.
Fire danger will increase from moderate to high in the Kaniksu Fire Danger Rating Area.
Fire danger rating remains very high in the Lower Basin and Methow Fire Danger Rating Areas
Fire danger rating remains high in the Foothills, Highlands, Lower Yakima, and Upper Yakima Danger Rating Areas.
Effective
Tuesday, August 4
IFPL will increase to Level 3 in zones 684 and 686.
IFPL will remain Level 1 in zones 678E, 680, 685, 687, and 688.
IFPL will remain Level 2 in zone 609W, 609E, and 675.
IFPL will remain Level 3 in zone 678.
Burn restrictions remain in place for the following:
Small debris disposal fires (rule burning) are not allowed in Chelan, Foothills, Highlands, Kaniksu, Lower Basin, Lower Yakima, Methow, Upper Basin, Upper Yakima, and Valley Fire Danger Rating Areas.
No burning allowed (written burn permits issued by DNR are suspended) in Chelan, Foothills, Highlands, Kaniksu, Lower Basin, Lower Yakima, Methow, Upper Basin, Upper Yakima, and Valley Fire Danger Rating Areas.
Campfires may be allowed in designated campgrounds. Always check with local campground hosts before lighting a campfire. Additionally, always make sure campfires are completely out before leaving them unattended – if it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave. Counties and local jurisdictions may have additional restrictions.
The IFPL system
Industrial Fire Precaution Levels apply to all industrial operations that might cause a fire on or adjacent to lands protected from fire by DNR (WAC 332-24-301); this applies to logging, industrial and forest landowner operations.
The levels are established for each of the 38 “shutdown zones” in the state on the basis of National Fire Danger Rating System data.
There are four IFPL levels:
Level 1 (closed fire season): fire equipment and a fire watch are required
Level 2 (partial hoot owl): limits certain activities to between 8 p.m. and 1 p.m.; fire equipment and a fire watch are required
Level 3 (partial shutdown): prohibits some activities and limits others to between 8 p.m. and 1 p.m.; fire equipment and a fire watch are required
Level 4 (general shutdown): prohibits all activities
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