OLYMPIA – Effective Monday, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will make the following fire danger rating and industrial fire precaution level changes (IFPL) on DNR-protected lands.
Effective Monday, Aug. 13, 2018:
- Fire danger will increase to a “very high” in Spokane and Stevens (inside Fire Districts 1 and 2) counties.
- The IFPL will increase to a Level 3 in zones 687, 678W, 678E, 685.
- The IFPL will increase to a Level 2 in zone 688.
Fire danger will continue as “very high” in Okanogan and Lincoln counties and “high” in Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Stevens (outside Fire Districts 1 and 2) counties.
In zones 684 and 686, the IFPL will remain at a Level 3.
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.
These changes are following a statewide outdoor burning ban across state-protected lands issued by Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz on Aug. 2, 2018.
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, industrial and forest landowner 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
DNR’s wildfire leadership and mission
Led 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 land. DNR is the state’s largest wildfire fighting force.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Janet Pearce
Communications Manager
360-902-1122
janet.pearce@dnr.wa.gov
Guy Gifford
Public Information Officer
509-990-6218
