By Marcy Stamper
The Okanogan County commissioners signed their annual resolution on Tuesday (June 16), banning all outdoor burning because of the potential for large, catastrophic fires. The ban typically goes into effect before the July 4 holiday.
Under the ban, agricultural burning and outdoor burning of yard waste are prohibited. The use of gas- or charcoal-fired barbecues is allowed. Fireworks are prohibited throughout the county, on public and private land.
An exception to the burn ban is in orchards in the Tonasket Fire District that have been afflicted with fire blight bacteria. People may obtain a special permit to burn infected trees, which requires consultation with the county’s pest-control agent and strict provisions to control the fire.
The burn ban is effective immediately and will continue until the commissioners rescind it.
Bans on public lands
The state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has banned all outdoor burning east of the Cascades as of Wednesday (June 17). The ban applies in state forests, state parks and private lands under DNR fire protection. Campfires are not allowed on state land except in DNR campgrounds.
DNR calls fire danger in Okanogan County moderate, although Chelan and Douglas counties are already classified as at high fire danger.
With the current level of fire risk, industrial activities such as cutting firewood may only be conducted during the night and morning hours between 8 p.m. and 1 p.m. (known as “partial hoot owl”). Fire equipment and a fire watch are required.
On U.S. Forest Service land, record hot, dry and windy weather has prompted officials to prohibit campfires in the Chelan, Entiat and Wenatchee River ranger districts.
Campfires are still allowed in the Methow Valley Ranger District and in other areas of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, but forest managers stress the need for caution, since the area is drier than usual at this time of year, with a lower-than-normal snowpack. The lower part of the Methow Valley is much drier than the upper areas, said Matt Desimone, acting fire management officer for the Methow Valley Ranger District.
Campfire restrictions do not include developed campgrounds in the national forest. All campfires — even those in approved fire rings — must be constantly attended until completely extinguished. To completely extinguish a campfire, it must be stirred with adequate amounts of dirt and water until it is cold to the touch of a bare hand.
Escaped campfires are the leading human cause of wildfires in the Okanogan-Wenatchee forest, according to the Forest Service.
Campfire restrictions in the Methow Valley Ranger District typically start in July, said Desimone. Even where fires are permitted, fire officials emphasize the need for caution and common sense.
Current conditions are available online or from the Methow Valley Ranger District at 996-4003.
Fire near Pateros controlled
A fire 5 miles south of Pateros called the Cold Springs Fire was 100 percent contained at just over 1,000 acres on Monday (June 15), according to the chief deputy state fire marshal. Fire response included 24 engines, five water tenders, one bulldozer, a 20-person hand crew and two aircraft, all of which were demobilized Monday afternoon.
There have been 241 wildfire starts in the state this year, according to DNR.
