Regional News

Fire Precaution Level, Fire Danger Ratings Increase in Eastern Washington


Jul 23, 2020

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

Effective Friday, July 24, 2020:

 

  • Fire danger will increase from high to very high in the Lower Basin, Methow, and Valley Fire Danger Rating Areas.
  • Fire danger will increase from moderate to high in the Foothills, Highlands, and Upper Basin Fire Danger Rating Areas.
  • Fire danger rating remains high in the Chelan, Lower Yakima, and Upper Yakima Fire Danger Rating Areas.
  • Fire danger rating remains moderate in the Kaniksu Fire Danger Rating Area.

Effective Tuesday, July 28, 2020:

 

  • IFPL will increase to Level 2 in zones 609W, 609E, 675, 678, 678W, and 686.
  • IFPL will remain Level 1 in zones 678E, 680, 685, 687, and 688.
  • IFPL will remain Level 2 in zone 684.

Burn restrictions remain unchanged

 

  • Small debris disposal fires (rule burning) are not allowed in Chelan, Foothills, Highlands, Kaniksu, Lower Basin, Lower Yakima, Methow, Upper Basin, Upper Yakima, and Valley Fire Danger Rating Areas.
  • No burning allowed (written burn permits issued by DNR are suspended) in Chelan, Foothills, Highlands, Kaniksu, Lower Basin, Lower Yakima, Methow, Upper Basin, Upper Yakima, and Valley Fire Danger Rating Areas.

Campfires may be allowed in designated campgrounds. Always check with local campground hosts before lighting a campfire. Additionally, always make sure campfires are completely out before leaving them unattended – if it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave. Counties and local jurisdictions may have additional restrictions.  

Daily updates on burn restrictions are available at 1-800-323-BURN (2876) or on the Fire Danger and Outdoor Burning risk map at https://burnportal.dnr.wa.gov/ 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, 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

 


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