NOTICE AND ORDER

By order of the Stevens County Fire Marshal, and pursuant to Resolution 47-2008, adopted in regular session of the Board of County Commissioners on June 30, 2008,

OPEN BURNING is hereby ordered discontinued in the unincorporated areas of Stevens County  to include recreational fires until further notice effective August 8^th, 2017, unless this order is otherwise lifted or permitted by law or authorized agencies.  Open burning is any fire other than those permitted below:

This order is not intended to preclude the use of backyard barbecues for the purpose of food preparation only.  A water source must be readily available within 25 feet. 

Violations of this order shall be investigated and prosecuted by the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office/Stevens County Fire Marshal, and the Stevens County Prosecuting Attorney pursuant to the provisions of IFC Section 109, or other applicable state law.  Any person(s) conducting open burning who fails to take immediate action to extinguish or otherwise discontinue such burning when ordered or notified to do so shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

A violation of this order is a misdemeanor and shall be punishable upon conviction by a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both.  (Stevens County Building Code Ordinance 02-1984 Section 7).

Signed and so ordered this 7th day of August, 2017.

Kendle Allen
Stevens County Sheriff/Fire Marshal

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced today the following changes in fire danger rating and industrial fire precaution levels (IFPL) on DNR-protected lands.

Effective 12:01 a.m., Sunday, August 6, 2017:

• Fire danger will increase from high to very high in Pend Oreille County.
• Fire danger remains very high in Lincoln, Spokane, Okanogan, Stevens and Ferry counties.  

Effective 12:01 a.m., Sunday, August 6, 2017:

• IFPL will increase to a Level 3 in zones 678W, 684, 685, 686 and 687.

• IFPL will remain a Level 2 in zone 678E and 688.

Daily updates on burn restrictions 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 IFPL map at http://www.dnr.wa.gov/ifpl.

The IFPL system
Industrial Fire Precaution Levels apply to all industrial operations that might cause a fire on or adjacent to lands protected from fire by DNR (WAC 332-24-301); this applies to logging and other industrial operations.

The levels are established for each of the 38 “shutdown zones” in the state on the basis of National Fire Danger Rating System data.

There are four IFPL levels:

• Level 1 (closed fire season):  fire equipment and a fire watch are required
• Level 2 (partial hoot owl):  limits certain activities to between 8 p.m. and 1 p.m.; fire equipment and a fire watch are required
• Level 3 (partial shutdown):  prohibits some activities and limits others to between 8 p.m. and 1 p.m.; fire equipment and a fire watch are required
• Level 4 (general shutdown):  prohibits all activities

Campfire restrictions in Okanogan County

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced today the following changes in fire danger rating on DNR-protected lands.

Effective 12:01 a.m., Friday, July 28, 2017:

• Fire danger will increase from high to very high in Okanogan, Lincoln, Spokane, Stevens and Ferry counties.
• All campfires in Okanogan County will be prohibited. Other northeastern counties may allow campfires in approved campfire pits in designated campgrounds, however, always check with campground host before starting any campfire as individual campgrounds may not allow campfires.

Daily updates on burn restrictions 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 IFPL map at http://www.dnr.wa.gov/ifpl.

 Fireworks and incendiary devices, such as exploding targets, sky lanterns, or tracer ammunition, are illegal on all DNR-protected forestlands.

DNR’s wildfire mission

Administered by Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, DNR is responsible for preventing and fighting wildfires on 13 million acres of private, state and tribal-owned forestlands. DNR is the state’s largest on-call fire department and participates in Washington’s coordinated interagency approach to firefighting.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Janet Pearce
Communications Manager
360-902-1122
janet.pearce@dnr.wa.gov

Guy Gifford
Public Information Officer
509-990-6218
guy.gifford@dnr.wa.gov