Pierce County Fire Marshal Warner Webb has announced a county-wide outdoor burn ban, effective yesterday, Thursday, Aug. 18, until further notice.
Dry weather and forecasts calling for continued dry heat prompted the limited ban, issued jointly with the Pierce County Fire Chiefs’ Association and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
The indefinite ban applies to all land clearing and yard debris outdoor burning. This ban does not apply to small recreational fires in established fire pits at approved camp grounds or private property with the owner’s permission. The use of gas and propane self-contained stoves and barbeques are allowed under the ban.
Recreational fires must:
• Be built in a metal or concrete fire pit, such as those typically found in designated campgrounds; and not be used as debris disposal;
• Grow no larger than three feet in diameter;
• Be located in a clear spot free from any vegetation for at least 10 feet in a horizontal direction, including at least 25 feet away from any structure and allow 20-foot vertical clearance from overhanging branches;
• Be attended at all times by an alert individual and equipment capable of extinguishing the fire like hand tools and a charged garden hose or not less than two 5 gallon buckets of water;
• No burning when winds exceed 5 MPH.
This ban only applies to residents in unincorporated Pierce County. For residents of incorporated Pierce County cities, please contact your local jurisdiction for requirements.
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has issued a statewide burn ban that applies to state forests, state parks and forestlands protected by DNR firefighters. It prohibits all outdoor burning, including campfires in fire pits and the use of charcoal briquettes. Liquid gas or propane camp stoves that do not use solid briquettes and have on/off controls are permitted.
The statewide ban does not include federally-owned lands such as national forests, national parks, national wildlife refuges or other areas administered by federal agencies.
