MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Washington State Parks bans campfires until further notice

Jul 2, 2021, 11:27 AM | Updated: 12:08 pm

campfire, firewood...

(Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

(Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Leave the s’mores ingredients at home because Washington State Parks has banned wood and charcoal fires at its parks statewide and on ocean beaches until further notice. Fireworks are also prohibited at state parks.

The level 3 burn ban is effective immediately.

Parks says the campfire ban is necessary, given the hot and dry conditions across Washington state.

Check local ordinances for firework restrictions at ocean beaches.

It’s still OK to use gas or propane self-contained camping stoves and portable gas or propane firepits. However, you must be in a designated camping and picnic site.

On Thursday, State Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz signed an order issuing a statewide burn ban on all forest lands under the Washington State Department of Natural Resources fire protection.

Statewide DNR burn ban enacted ahead of Fourth of July weekend

The order bans outdoor burning, campfires, the use of charcoal briquettes and prescribed burns on all forest lands within DNR’s fire protection through Sept. 30, 2021. It also supersedes any other burn ban currently in effect on forest lands under DNR protection.

“I am asking everyone in Washington to do their part to protect our firefighters and our communities this summer,” Franz said. “Please do not start a fire outside, and please do not set off your own fireworks this weekend.”

MyNorthwest News

shooting seattle center...

Frank Sumrall

3 dead, 4 injured in Seattle Center shooting during Bite of Seattle event

Three people were killed and another four were injured in a shooting at Seattle Center Sunday evening, SPD confirmed.

7 hours ago

The Modrite Fire, in northeast Washington state, has grown to more than 9,000 acres. (Photo Courtes...

Tom Brock

Washington state wildfires growing in size, forcing evacuations

Dry conditions across the state have prompted Red Flag Watches and Warnings, as a series of wildfires continues to grow across Washington.

13 hours ago

A Kent Police Department vehicle (Photo courtesy of Kent Police Department)...

Tom Brock

Dispute at a family graduation celebration ends with deadly shooting

One man is dead, and another is in police custody after a family celebration in Kent ended with a shooting. Police arrested a 40-year-old suspect at a family graduation celebration after a 41-year-old man was shot multiple times. It happened at a home in the 900 block of E. Cherry Hill St., a half mile […]

15 hours ago

Jimothy (1) seattle raccoon ballard...

Luke Duecy

The Spin: Jimothy goes viral as brands jump in — how corporate ‘newsjacking’ turns attention into marketing

Jimothy the raccoon has become one of the internet's biggest viral stars, and now major brands are racing to join the conversation.

21 hours ago

Longview fire air quality...

Frank Lenzi

Massive scrap pile fire in Longview triggers air quality warning; residents urged to stay indoors

A large scrap pile fire at PNW Metals in Longview sent a massive plume of smoke into the sky Saturday, prompting fire officials to issue an air quality warning urging nearby residents to stay indoors. The Longview Fire Department and Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue were on scene as of Saturday afternoon and anticipated remaining […]

1 day ago

world cup hotel bookings...

Tom Brock

Unauthorized parachutists caught on video jumping from Space Needle

Tourists at Seattle's Space Needle got a little more than the view they expected Friday, when two men parachuted off the iconic structure's Observation Deck.

2 days ago

Washington State Parks bans campfires until further notice