The Thurston County Outdoor Burn Ban on residential materials prohibiting some recreational fires, effective as of 10 a.m., Wednesday August 2, has been extended and is now scheduled to end on Saturday, September 30, 2017.
This burn ban applies to outdoor recreational burning with the exception of recreational fires in approved concrete, stone or metal pits like those commonly found in campgrounds. The use of charcoal briquettes, gas and propane barbeques will continue to be allowed under the ban.
The Annual Fire Safety Burn Ban on Land Clearing and Residential yard-waste fires (July 15-Sept. 30 annually) remains in effect as well. Residents who wish to burn yard waste after the burn ban is lifted MUST acquire a free Burn Permit via the ORCAA Website, https://www.www.orcaa.org/forms/thurston-county-burn-permit/. Note that all residential yard waste burning is permanently prohibited by state law within all Cities and Urban Growth Area (UGA) boundaries. Violations of burn bans may result in fines.
The Thurston County Fire Marshal in consultation with the County Manager, the Board of County Commissioners and the Thurston County Fire Chiefs Association, determined that current and predicted weather conditions within the county have created substantial fire danger and there is a need to extend restrictions on outdoor burning to all lands regulated by Thurston County.
Thurston County Emergency Management Coordinator Andrew Kinney said, “The National Weather Service shows above normal temperatures with little chance of rain likely through September 20.” He said, “We have already seen fires in Thurston County and ask residents to do all they can to help prevent these fires from occurring.”
Other than following the current ban in place, Emergency Management asks residents to consider no charcoal fires, no open fires, knocking down dry grass in the morning when it is still covered in dew, not setting hot power equipment in dry grass, not parking hot motor vehicles in dry grass, checking for dragging chains or low hanging chains when towing trailers or boats, and making sure ATVs and ORVs have spark arrestors.
For more tips on how to reduce fire risks, visit: http://www.dnr.wa.gov/WildfirePrevention, or http://www.firewise.org/
