The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced there will be a statewide burn ban on all DNR-protected lands July 1, 2012, through September 30, 2012. This means all forestlands in Washington under DNR fire protection; the burn ban does not apply to federal lands.

The threat of wildfires from escaped outdoor burning is high during the summer months due to dry forest vegetation. Each year, DNR strives to keep all wildfires under 10 acres. Already this year, DNR has had 35 wildfire starts simply from escaped outdoor burn piles, which have burned approximately 434 acres.

“Wildfires are dangerous for people and property and result in large expenditures of public funding that can be avoided through prevention,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark.

The ban will apply to all outdoor burning on DNR-protected forestlands with the following exceptions:

1. Recreational fires in approved fire pits within designated state, county, municipal or other campgrounds, and

2. DNR-approved prescribed fires, implemented to enhance or restore fire-dependent ecosystems and forest health, when enhancement and restoration by prescribed fire can only be accomplished successfully during the period of time from July 1, 2012, through September 30, 2012.

The use of gas and propane self-contained stoves and barbeques will continue to be allowed under the ban.

When implemented, the burn ban will take precedence over and supersede all other burn bans currently in effect on DNR-protected forestlands. The burn ban does not apply to federal lands.