Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Extreme caution urged with any open flame
Mason County implemented a burn ban July 7 to prohibit all recreational fires in the county.
According to the state Department of Natural Resources website, the fire danger rating in the county is "very high," which is the second highest rating possible. Campfires, recreational fires and charcoal briquettes are prohibited in the county, but cooking stoves, barbeques and recreational fire pits fueled by propane or gas with a shutoff valve are authorized.
Mason County Fire Marshal Randy Collins said there is a sense of relief with the burn ban in place.
"I think everybody knows by this point from the media and just having lived through a fairly dry spring that we are in a drought advisory condition and that is going to dry out the fuels, bring the fuel-level moisture content down and make them much more susceptible to fires," Collins told the Journal on Monday. "Given that alone, not to mention the fire history of what we had with McEwan Prairie, we had a vegetation fire on Saturday, that should to me, provide all the evidence and create enough sense of urgency to justify having such burn restrictions in effect."
Collins explained that while some recreational burning activities are allowed, briquettes and wood fires are barred because they generate embers and can reignite after disposal.
"Fires, if not properly extinguished, have been known to cause vegetation fires when winds pick up and fan the flames and bring them back to life or pick up embers and float them down to adjoining vegetation," Collins said. "That's historically a problem with the proper disposal of charcoal briquettes. They can be very deceiving. You can think four days after a fire that they're totally out and cold, but you go dump them in your garbage and lo and behold, they will come to life. I've personally been to probably a dozen fires where people have done that and it basically burned their house to the ground. That's why those are not allowed."
Campfires are allowed within designated campgrounds using improved fire pits constructed from concrete, brick or metal.
Olympic National Park issued a burn ban of its own of its own Sunday, implementing fire restrictions that allow campfires only in established fire rings in designated areas.
According to a news release, all backcountry and dispersed-area campfires will not be allowed, including the use of charcoal grills or other equipment that creates ash. Gas or propane camp stoves with a shut-off valve or lever are permitted in these areas but should be operated away from flammable vegetation and forest litter. Campfires on beaches at Olympic National Park are not permitted under this restriction.
Extreme caution is urged with any open flame.
"As we've seen in recent years the peninsula is getting drier earlier in the year," Assistant Fire Management Officer for Olympic Interagency Fire Management Micah Johnson said in a news release. "These changes make the landscape more vulnerable. Even places like the rainforests in Quinault and Hoh river valleys and beaches along the coast are susceptible."
Shelton also implemented a burn ban Friday in accordance with the DNR's fire danger rating. Propane-fueled equipment and pellet grills will remain legal in Shelton during the burn ban.
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