Local News

Industrial fire precaution levels rise in Okanogan County

Jul 31, 2014

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

Effective 12:01 a.m. on August 1, 2014, the following industrial fire precaution level changes will be implemented:

Okanogan County (Zones 678W, 679L, 679H) IFPL will increase to Level 2.

Campfires are prohibited in all DNR campgrounds in Okanogan County.

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 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

The same system is used by DNR, the U.S. Forest Service, the federal Bureau of Land Management, and the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs. This provides consistency for workers operating on lands regulated by the various agencies. For specific information regarding components of the IFPL system, please visit DNR’s website.

Daily updates on burn restrictions are available at 1-800-323-BURN or on the Fire Danger and Outdoor Burning risk map at: http://bit.ly/burnrisk