Red Flag fire warning issued for parts of east Lewis County

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning from June 5 at 3:11 PM PDT until June 6 at 10:00PM

With the continued warm weather now and in the foreseeable future, the Lewis County Fire Marshal wants to remind residents of Lewis County to remain diligent with fire safety. Please use this as a reminder that the current dry conditions create a high fire danger and with predicted winds, fires can spread rapidly.

It is advised if you do not need to burn to wait until conditions have improved.

• Do not burn when the wind has reached 10 MPH.
• Have proper firefighting equipment on site and appropriate source of water for fire fighting.
• Never leave a fire unattended.
• Maintain proper clearances from structures and other sources of combustion such as trees, brush, grasses, and other slash piles.

Please be diligent in protecting yours and neighboring property. Most fires can be prevented by proactive fire safety and planning.

Recreational campfires in designated campgrounds and on private lands, if built in the following manner, are still allowable:

• The campfire shall be no greater than 3-feet in diameter and have a ring constructed of metal, stone or brick 8-inches above surface with a 2-foot wide area cleared down to exposed soil surrounding the outside of the pit.
• The campfire shall have an area at least 10-feet around it cleared of all flammable materials and at least 20-feet of clearance from overhead flammable materials or fuels.
• The campfire must be attended at all times by a responsible person at least 16-years old with the ability to extinguish the fire with a shovel and a 5-gallon bucket of water or with a connected and charged garden hose.
• Completely extinguish campfires by pouring water or moist soil in them and stirring with a shovel until all parts are cool to the touch.
• The use of self-contained camp stoves and propane burn rings with a shut off is encouraged as an alternative.

For further information concerning outdoor burning and/or the restrictions being imposed, please contact Doyle Sanford, Lewis County Fire Marshal, at (360) 740-2696. The Fire Marshal’s office is in the Lewis County Public Services building, located at 2025 NE Kresky Avenue, Chehalis, Washington.