Lewis County Fire Marshal issues outdoor burning restrictions

CHEHALIS – The Lewis County Fire Marshal has announced burn restrictions on outdoor burning for unincorporated lands in the county, beginning at 12:00 a.m. Friday, June 9.

Lewis County is experiencing unseasonably dry conditions and an unusual amount of runaway burn piles.

“After careful review of the current and extended weather forecast, the Lewis County Commissioners, Community Development Director and Fire Marshal have determined that current weather conditions within Lewis County have created substantial fire danger,” said Lewis County Fire Marshal Doyle Sanford.

Recreational campfires in designated campgrounds and on private lands are still allowed if:

• The campfire is no greater than 3 feet in diameter inside a ring constructed of metal, stone or brick 8 inches above the surface,
• The campfire has 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, and
• The campfire is attended at all times by a responsible person with the ability to extinguish the fire with a shovel and a 5-gallon bucket of water or garden hose.

If building a campfire, the fire marshal says it’s important to completely extinguish the fire by pouring water or moist soil in them and stirring with a shovel until all parts are cool to the touch.

The burning restriction applies to applicants with a current open burning permit, which now expire at 12:00 midnight June 8.

The burn ban will be in place until the conditions improve. All land clearing, residential and silvicultural burning will be restricted until further notice.

For further information concerning outdoor burning and/or the restrictions being imposed, please contact the Lewis County Fire Marshal at his office inside the Lewis County Public Services building at 2025 NE Kresky Ave. in Chehalis, or by phone at (360) 740-2696.