PORT ANGELES — Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest have banned any fire that produces ash in all areas of the national forest and the park, including coastal areas.
The new rules took effect Friday.
Most of the Olympic Peninsula has received less than 1/10 of an inch of rainfall during the last 20 days and the hot, dry conditions are expected to continue through the rest of summer, according to a joint press release.
“The number of wildland fires are increasing across the region and country,” said Jeff Bortner, the interagency fire management officer. “As a result, resources and incident management teams are working at maximum capacity. We are therefore using every option to eliminate ignition sources and prevent the establishment of an unwanted fire on the Olympic Peninsula. Drought conditions are predicted to continue and we are in the Very High Fire Danger category. Banning campfires, including the use of charcoal, allows us to reduce the risk of new fires forming on the landscape. We are also asking everyone to exercise the highest level of caution when visiting the Olympic Peninsula to help us prevent unwanted fires.”
Pressurized or bottled liquid fuel stoves, lanterns or heating devices are permitted in campgrounds and wilderness areas if there is no flammable material within three feet of the device; stoves must be equipped with an on/off switch or valve capable of immediately extinguishing the flame.
The Park and Forest services recommend the following measures to reduce the risk of starting fires:
• Use extreme caution with any open flame.
• Fireworks are always prohibited on federal public lands.
• Before going camping, check for new fire restrictions.
• Tow safely and maintain your vehicle to prevent sparks.
• Always dispose of cigarette debris in some type of an ashtray.
For more information, visit www.fs.usda.gov/ olympic or www.nps.gov/olym.
