DNR imposes new burn restrictions

OLYMPIA, Wash.-- The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issued early season burn restrictions on DNR-protected lands in eastern Washington.

• All outdoor burning, which includes permit and rule burning (small debris disposal fires), is not allowed in eastern Washington. This includes the following Fire Danger Rating Areas: Blue Mountain Grass and Brush, Chelan, Foothills, Highlands, Kaniksu, Lower Basin, Lower Yakima, Methow, Northern Blue Mountains, Valley, Upper Basin, and Upper Yakima.

A frontal passage bringing dry conditions and gusty winds over the next couple of days, prompting the agency to issue the early season burn ban.

DNR also cited the COVID-19 response in a press release, saying that firefighters and first responders are working hard to stay healthy to ensure their readiness to respond to fires and other emergencies.

In eastern Washington, a new fire danger rating system was implemented in 2019. Instead of basing the fire danger rating by county, it is now based on geographic areas that share similar fuels, climate, and topography in addition to administrative boundaries and is now called Fire Danger Rating Areas (FDRA’s). This change was developed with the intent of having a common fire behavior component, and was developed through interagency collaboration to help clarify messages with multiple agencies. 

Daily updates on burn restrictions and Industrial Fire Precaution Levels are available at 1-800-323-BURN or on the Fire Danger and Outdoor Burning risk map at https://fortress.wa.gov/dnr/protection/firedanger/ and Industrial Fire Precaution Levels map  https://fortress.wa.gov/dnr/protection/ifpl/.