Effective July 8 the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, in cooperation with local fire chiefs and county emergency management officials, restricted all outdoor burning for land clearing and silvicultural (forestry) purposes in King, Kitsap, Mason, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. The restriction runs until Sept. 30.

Silvicultural burning is usually associated with timber operations or other forest practices on unimproved or forested land. This burn restriction will coincide with county burn restrictions affecting improved property in the five counties. These restrictions may be extended depending on fire weather conditions. These restrictions do not extend to federally managed lands.

Recreational campfires are allowed if built in approved fire pits in designated campgrounds, such as those typically found in local, county and state parks and in commercial campgrounds. On private land, campfires are permitted with the landowner’s permission if built in the following manner:

• in a metal, stone or masonry-lined fire pit, such as those seen in approved campgrounds.

• not exceeding 3 feet in diameter.

• having an area of at least 10 feet around the campfire cleared of all flammable material and having at least 30 feet of clearance from overhead fuels (like tree limbs).

• attended at all times by a responsible person at least 16 years old with the ability and tools to extinguish the fire and either five gallons of water or a connected and charged water hose.

Always completely extinguish a campfire by pouring water or moist soil into it and stirring with a shovel until all parts are cool to the touch. The use of self-contained camp stoves is encouraged as an alternative to a fire pit. The use of burn barrels is prohibited in Washington.

For more information, call the DNR’s South Puget Sound Region Office at 360-825-1631 or Pierce County Fire Marshal’s Office at 253-798-7183.

For daily updates on burn restrictions, call 1-800-323-BURN or http://fortress.wa.gov/dnr/firedanger/BurnRisk.aspx.