Thanks to wet weather across the North Olympic Peninsula and most of Western Washington last week, both State Parks and state Department of Natural Resources officials have lifted bans on campfires in fire rings on state lands.
Both agencies removed their prohibitions against campfires on lands west of the Cascade Range on Friday, following storms earlier in the week that eased a weekslong dry spell.
DNR officials had put the campfire ban in place Monday, while the State Parks campfire ban went into effect Tuesday.
Both agencies allow campfires in approved fire pits or fire rings in established campgrounds only.
“We’ve seen a shift from extremely hot and dry to more moderate weather in Western Washington, which means a reduced risk of wildfire,” Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark said in a statement Friday.
“This shift allows us to adjust the burn ban to allow recreational campfires in these specific circumstances on DNR-protected lands on the west side of the state.”
All other outdoor burning on DNR lands continues to be prohibited under this ban, and fireworks and incendiary devices, such as exploding targets, sky lanterns or tracer ammunition, remain illegal.
Clallam County expanded its burn ban Monday to prohibit all recreational fires, except within Olympic National Park and in other controlled campgrounds.
Jefferson County fire officials lifted a one-day ban on campfires Wednesday after putting it in place Tuesday.
The Jefferson County ban on outdoor fires used to dispose of debris or rubbish will be in place until Sept. 30.
No special fire restrictions exist on Olympic National Park or Olympic National Forest lands.