PORT TOWNSEND — East Jefferson Fire-Rescue has initiated a burn ban in Jefferson County, following the state’s lead in light of unusually dry weather.
Burn bans are now in effect across the North Olympic Peninsula.
Clallam County announced a burn ban Friday.
The bans prohibit the burning of yard debris and of using fire to clear land. They permit recreational fires within fire pits with water close by.
The county bans and the state ban are in effect until at least Sept. 30. If conditions warrant, the bans could be extended.
On Monday, the state Department of Natural Resources expanded its burn ban, which already had been declared for state lands on the east side of the state, to cover those in Western Washington as well.
The order includes the agency’s 371,000 acres on the Olympic Peninsula.
Fire bans generally begin July 1. They are earlier this year because of drought and dry conditions.
“Conditions are getting dry and crunchy,” said Bill Beezley, East Jefferson Fire-Rescue spokesman.
“It’s clearly drier than normal this time of year.”
Forecasts for the next eight days call for above-average temperatures and the possibility of dry lightning, Beezley said.
The DNR ban means all outdoor burning is prohibited in state forests, state parks and forestlands protected by the state agency.
It doesn’t cover federal lands such as national parks or national forests.
Fireworks and incendiary devices, such as exploding targets, are prohibited on all state lands protected by DNR and are illegal in the city of Port Townsend.