Governor issues emergency burn ban in every county
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OLYMPIA, Wash. - Gov. Chris Gregoire issued an emergency proclamation Sunday enacting a sweeping outdoor burn ban for every county in Washington state through the middle of the month.
“Washington state is experiencing a weather pattern like one we’ve rarely seen before,” Gregoire said. “The long, warm and dry spell has elevated fire danger across our state. Given that we don’t expect a significant amount of rainfall for quite some time, it makes sense to extend this proclamation and expand the burn ban."
No significant rainfall has fallen in the Seattle area since July 23. The dry streak sets new records daily the longer it continues, and no rain is in the forecast until Friday at the soonest.
The state Department of Natural Resources said Friday that critical weather conditions like these are "not seen in a lifetime."
"Extraordinary dry conditions across our state require that all Washingtonians exercise the utmost caution and allow fire crews to focus on the challenges at hand," Gregoire said.
The burn ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including but not limited to campfires, bonfires, fireworks, residential yard debris clean-up, trash disposal, land clearing, weed abatement and agricultural burning.
Liquid fueled or gas-fueled stoves are permitted provided that use is conducted over a non-flammable surface and is at least five feet from flammable vegetation. Charcoal grills are permitted at private residences under the same conditions.
The burn ban remains in effect through Oct. 15.
The governor's proclamation directs state agencies and departments to continue to use state resources and to do everything reasonably possible to assist local jurisdictions respond to and recover from fires.
“Washington state is experiencing a weather pattern like one we’ve rarely seen before,” Gregoire said. “The long, warm and dry spell has elevated fire danger across our state. Given that we don’t expect a significant amount of rainfall for quite some time, it makes sense to extend this proclamation and expand the burn ban."
No significant rainfall has fallen in the Seattle area since July 23. The dry streak sets new records daily the longer it continues, and no rain is in the forecast until Friday at the soonest.
The state Department of Natural Resources said Friday that critical weather conditions like these are "not seen in a lifetime."
"Extraordinary dry conditions across our state require that all Washingtonians exercise the utmost caution and allow fire crews to focus on the challenges at hand," Gregoire said.
The burn ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including but not limited to campfires, bonfires, fireworks, residential yard debris clean-up, trash disposal, land clearing, weed abatement and agricultural burning.
Liquid fueled or gas-fueled stoves are permitted provided that use is conducted over a non-flammable surface and is at least five feet from flammable vegetation. Charcoal grills are permitted at private residences under the same conditions.
The burn ban remains in effect through Oct. 15.
The governor's proclamation directs state agencies and departments to continue to use state resources and to do everything reasonably possible to assist local jurisdictions respond to and recover from fires.
Glad she is leaving office..She really messed up Washington.
Good idea on the part of the governor. Too many times people feel it is not them and their fire that will get out of control. The oregon Forest service found (20) unattended campfires still burning after the labor day weekend. Too bad they could not have found the culprits and fined each of them.
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 @Just LookinÂ
Or worse a person lives JUST INSIDE one county who has not been able to get the ban in place, but lives in the same conditions that a neighboring country has and they have had the ban for a month, and then does something stupid.
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Then the county with the ban ends up getting the wildfire.
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Gosh, the picture shows someone who has been aged by the political process.
This wouldn't be necessary if people had common sense and used their brains for a change. Â But, it's been proven, too many people are idiots who have to be led around by the nose and told what to do. Â
About time too! Better late than never I guess!