Burn bans in county

Hot, dry weather has descended on Western Washington, causing a variety of burn bans for Mason County.

The Department of Natural Resources has issued a statewide burn ban through Sept. 30. The DNR can extend or shorten the date depending on fire conditions, according to a news release.

The Mason County Fire Marshal also implemented restrictions through that date, subject to changing conditions.

All outdoor burning, including campfires in firepits, charcoal briquettes and any other equipment that creates ash is prohibited on all lands in the county and on all forest lands under Department of Natural Resources, including state parks and state forests.

Liquid or propane camp stoves that do not use solid briquettes and have on/off controls, pizza ovens, smokers, propane fire pits, or propane barbeques are exempt.

Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest are allowing campfires in established fire rings in designated areas for now, officials said.

“Abnormally dry and drought like conditions have lingered over portions of the peninsula for the past several years, this is leading to live vegetation being in a state of stress and dead vegetation is quick to react to localized weather patterns; like the recent heat dome,” Fire Management Officer for Olympic Interagency Fire Management Jeff Bortner said in a news release.

“These changes line up to quick changes in fire danger. Places like the Quinault and Hoh, and coastal beaches are especially sensitive to prolonged dry periods and drought as they have not evolved to survive in a moisture deficit,” Bortner said.

No backcountry and dispersed area campfires are permitted, including charcoal grills, in Olympic National Park or Forest.

Beach campfires in Olympic National Park are also restricted.

“Gas or propane camp stoves with a shut-off valve or lever that extinguishes the flame immediately are permitted in these areas but should be operated far from flammable vegetation and forest litter,” according to the news release.

Olympic National Park officials said they are watching fire conditions carefully and may implement further restrictions at any time.