MONTESANO— Effective 12:01 a.m. yesterday, Wednesday, July 16, Grays Harbor County Fire Districts and Fire Departments in cooperation with the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA), enacted restrictions on all outdoor burning.
All residential burning, along with land clearing and silvicultural (forest practices) burning will be prohibited until further notice.
Campfires
Recreational campfires are allowed if built in improved fire pits in designated campgrounds, such as those typically found in local, county and state parks and in commercial campgrounds. On private land, campfires are permitted with the landowner’s permission if built in the following approved manner:
• The campfire shall be no greater than 3-feet in diameter and constructed of a ring of metal, stone or brick eight inches above ground surface, with a two-ft.-wide area cleared down to exposed soil surrounding the outside of the pit.
•The campfire shall have an area of at least 10-ft. around it cleared of all flammable material and at least 20-foot of clearance from overhead flammable materials or fuels.
•The campfire must be attended at all times by a responsible person at least 16-years-old with the ability to extinguish the fire with a shovel and a 5-gallon bucket of water or with a connected and charged water hose.
Completely extinguish campfires by pouring water or moist soil in them and stirring with a shove until all parts are cool to the touch. The use of self-contained camp stoves is encouraged as an alternative.
Beach campfires
Beaches that allow burning will continue to allow burning as long as the fires are a minimum of 100-feet from the dunes and a size no larger than a 3-foot diameter and 2-feet high. All beach fires are to be extinguished totally prior to leaving the beaches.
If lighting a campfire on the beach, remain aware of weather conditions. High winds can carry sparks great distances, creating fires in the dunes, possibly affecting nearby homes.
Be vigilant and report unattended beach fires.
Park rangers may impose additional restrictions on fires for the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the public, park visitors or staff, or for the protection of park resources.
More Info
•GH County: Fire Marshal’s Office 360- 249-4222
•Fire Districts: Emergency pages of the local telephone book
•City Fire Departments: Government pages of the local telephone book
•Washington State Department of Natural Resources: Pacific Cascade Regional Office at 360- 577-2025
•Olympic Region Clean Air Agency: 1-800-4522-5623
