Joint Fire Protection District 3 & 8

Prescribed Burning Operations may be conducted in this area during following dates:

OCTOBER 1-31, 2020

A TEMPORARY CLOSURE of the area will be posted and in effect when burning occurs. 

Public safety is our priority.

Questions, Please Contact:

Spokane District Bureau of Land Management

Border Field Office

1103 North Fancher Road

Spokane Valley, WA 99212

509-981-1273

…RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM PDT MONDAY FOR
WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR NORTHEAST WASHINGTON AND THE OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS…

The National Weather Service in Spokane has issued a Red Flag
Warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect
from 11 AM to 8 PM PDT Monday. The Fire Weather Watch is no
longer in effect.

• Affected Area: Fire Weather Zone 686 Northeast Washington and
  Fire Weather Zone 687 Okanogan Highlands.
• Winds: Northeast 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. Local
  winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph around Deer Park and
  the Spokane Reservation.
• Relative Humidities: 14 to 30 percent.
• Impacts: Rapid fire spread of any new or ongoing fires will be
  possible. Heed burn ban restrictions. Outdoor burning is not
  recommended.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now….or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds…low relative humidity…and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

Issued: 9:14 PM Sep. 4, 2020 – National Weather Service

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR NORTHEAST WASHINGTON...

The National Weather Service in Spokane has issued a Fire Weather Watch for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from Monday morning through Monday evening.

* Affected Area: Fire Weather Zone 686 East Washington Northeast (Zone 686) and Fire Weather Zone 687 East Washington Okanogan Highlands (Zone 687).

* Winds: Northeast 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

* Relative Humidities: 20 to 30 percent.

* Impacts: Rapid fire spread of any new or ongoing fires will be possible. Heed burn ban restrictions. Outdoor burning not recommended.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible Red Flag Warnings.

Red Flag Warning for NE Washington area Saturday.

Report any sign of smoke or fire immediately. Better to call and be wrong than not call and have a fire get away.

A cold front moving through on Saturday will bring dry, windy conditions to the Inland Northwest Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning. Gusts 35 to 45 mph will be possible. 

Impacts 

• New or existing fires will be able to spread rapidly during this period (Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning)
• Choppy lakes

Temperatures cool 7 to 10 degrees Sunday behind the front

Warmer and breezier weather may return to Columbia Basin Tuesday

Temporary Ban on Unlawful Shooting on DNR-managed Lands Statewide Begins Saturday at 12 a.m.

To help prevent wildfires, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is temporarily banning the discharge of firearms for target-shooting or other purposes by anyone not engaged in lawful hunting. This ban will apply to 3 million acres of DNR-managed lands. This includes state forests, community forests, and forested state lands. The temporary ban goes into effect at 12 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020.

“We are entering a period of hot, dry weather across our state, including the highest temperatures we’ve seen all year,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz. “As conditions get hotter and drier, wildfire risk increases significantly, and we must take reasonable steps to prevent human-caused fires. I know this is an inconvenience for recreational target shooters, but we must do all that we can to ensure that our firefighters do not have to put their lives on the line to fight a preventable fire. When conditions improve, it will be lifted. But for now, we must put the safety of our communities and firefighters first.”

Discharging firearms poses a greater risk in dry conditions as bullets pass through decayed wood, cause sparks off rocks, or break into fragments in dry grass. This year, DNR has already responded to a greater number of fires than the ten-year annual average.

This temporary rule does not restrict hunting.

A burn ban is currently in effect on DNR lands statewide, and fire danger on most of the east side is rated as “high” or “extremely high.” Residents should check burn bans in their areas.  

Commissioner Franz is encouraging private landowners to consider target shooting restrictions on their own lands. 

The ban on discharging firearms for target-shooting, or other non-lawful hunting with firearms, is in effect until further notice.

Anyone who spots a wildfire should call 911 as soon as possible to report it.

DNR Recreation and Leadership

Led by the Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, DNR manages nearly 1,300 miles of trails and 160-plus recreation sites in 3 million acres of working forest state trust lands and 92 natural areas. DNR trust lands keep forests development-free, provide clean water, and generate revenue for public services and school construction. To learn more about recreation on DNR-managed lands, visit dnr.wa.gov/go.

Commissioner Franz and DNR staff are also 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.

Fire Danger:  Very High / Extreme

Burn Ban:  Rule and Permit burns are banned  

Fire danger level is very high. All debris burning on DNR jurisdiction is prohibited. This includes rule burning and permit burning. Campfires are allowed in approved, designated campgrounds only. Contact the county for information on recreation burning and debris burning on improved property.

Outdoor burning, the use of charcoal briquettes, and prescribed burns are banned on all forest lands through September 30, 2020. The following exceptions will apply: Recreational fires in approved fire pits within designated state, county, municipal or other campgrounds. As approved in writing by the Commissioner of Public Lands or Department Supervisor, approved prescribed fire for ecological purposes, when conducted by trained professionals. As approved in writing by the Commissioner of Public Lands or Department Supervisor when there are compelling reasons for such an exception.

Additionally, all open flames are prohibited in the unincorporated areas of Ferry County. This order is not intended to preclude the use of backyard barbecues, chimneys or other patio/deck warmers as long as only approved fuel is used; seasoned (clean and dry) firewood, briquettes or propane. Approved campfires at designated places in parks and campgrounds are also allowed as determined by agencies with jurisdiction. Disposal of vegetative waste in a recreational fire is prohibited. This restriction is in effect immediately and until further notice.

Additional information can be found in the proclamations. You can read them here. They’re short.