Lewis County Fire Marshal warns of increased fire danger

CHEHALIS – The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a red flag warning for potential wildfire danger through 10 p.m. Tuesday, June 6.

“With the continued warm weather now and in the foreseeable future, residents of Lewis County should remain diligent with fire safety,” Lewis County Fire Marshal Doyle Sanford said. “Current dry conditions create a high fire danger, and with predicted winds, fires can spread rapidly.”

Sanford advises that if you need to burn, wait until conditions have improved.

“Don’t burn in wind above 10 mph, have proper firefighting equipment on site and appropriate source of water for firefighting, never leave a fire unattended and maintain proper clearances from structures and other sources of combustion such as trees, brush, grasses, and other slash piles,” Sanford added. “Most fires can be prevented by proactive fire safety and planning.”

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, a 5-gallon bucket of water or garden hose.

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

For further information concerning outdoor burning and/or 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.