Under a Phase I Outdoor Burning Ban, outdoor burning permits are temporarily suspended and no outdoor burning is allowed except for cooking fires in contained barbecue units and recreational fires.  A “recreational” fire is defined as follows:

 

·  Built in a designated fire pit space,

·  No larger than three feet in diameter,

·  Contains seasoned firewood or charcoal briquettes only,

·  Located in a space well clear of vegetation, and at least 25 feet from buildings, fences, or anything that might burn,

·  Attended at all times by an alert adult with immediate access to a shovel and a water source.

 

Outdoor burning is the most common cause of wildland fires.  The potential for dangerous fire spread is increasing as vegetation moisture content is decreasing due to a prolonged spell of warm and dry weather.  More of the same is forecast for the coming week.  Local fire districts are already reporting well above average the number of brush fires.  Additionally, fire officials note that the majority of the state’s wildland firefighting resources are currently deployed in Eastern Washington where a number of fires are raging, leaving resources west of the mountains stretched in the event of similar blazes here.