Countywide Burn Ban Starts Today

The following blog entry was taken from a press release issued by the Clark County Fire Marshall's Office. 

Clark County will enact restrictions on all outdoor burning effective at 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 15, 2011. All land clearing and residential burning will be restricted until further notice.

Also, the Clark County Fire Marshal is rescinding all burning permits issued prior to the ban. Permits can be reissued or extended when the ban is lifted. These burning restrictions do not cover federally managed lands.

In an effort to have predictable and consistent burn ban dates, Clark and Cowlitz counties implemented a policy to ban outdoor burning from July 15 through Sept. 30 each year. However, in extreme fire hazard conditions, the ban can begin sooner or end later. The state Department of Natural Resources implemented a burn ban July 1 for property managed by their agency.

“Our goal is to educate the public about the annual burn ban dates, allowing residents to plan their burning during safer times of the year,” said Clark County Fire Marshal Jon Dunaway. “Please contact the Fire Marshal’s Office to be sure the ban has been lifted before resuming any burning after Sept. 30.”

Recreational campfires on forest lands are allowed only if built in improved fire pits in designated campgrounds, such as commercial campgrounds and local, county and state parks. On private land, recreational fires are permitted when built according to the following regulations:

• Recreational fires must be in a metal, stone or masonry lined fire pit such as those in improved campgrounds or available at home and garden store.
• Size may not exceed 3 feet in diameter by 2 feet in height.
• Fires must be at least 25 feet from a structure or other combustible material and have at least 20 feet of clearance from overhead fuels such as tree limbs, patio covers or carports.
• Fires must be attended at all times by a responsible person at least 16 years old with the ability and tools to extinguish the fire. Tools include a shovel and either five gallons of water or a connected and charged water hose.
• Portable outdoor fireplaces, also known as patio fireplaces, designed to burn solid fuel (wood) should not be operated within 15 feet of a structure or combustible material and must always be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Completely extinguish recreational fires by covering them with water or moist soil and stirring with a shovel until all parts are cool to the touch.

Self-contained camp stoves are a safe and easy alternative to camp fires.

For more information, please contact the Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office at

(360) 397-2186 or visit the county’s website at http://www.clark.wa.gov/development/fire/burning.html.