BURN BAN

Burn Ban to include recreational fires.

News Release

Recreational Fire Burn Ban rescinded.

August 28, 2023
Effective immediately Monday August 28TH, Cowlitz County will rescind
the temporary ban for recreational fires within the unincorporated areas of
the County.

The seasonal outdoor burn ban, implemented on July 4,
remains enforce.

For more information regarding recreational fires and outdoor burning,
please contact the Cowlitz County Fire Marshal’s Office at (360) 577-3052
or visit the County’s website at www.co.cowlitz.wa.us

News Release
Early Burn Ban in Effect Beginning July 4, 2023

Effective Tuesday July 4th at 12:00 a.m. Cowlitz County, in cooperation with neighboring Counties, has enacted restrictions on outdoor burning. The forecast for high temperatures and dry conditions has prompted this decision to enact the seasonal ban at this time. All land clearing, residential and silvicultural burning is restricted, and all outdoor burn
permits issued prior to the ban are rescinded. The ban will remain in effect until September 30th, but may be extended by the Fire Marshal if conditions
of significant fire danger persist. Burn permits can be reissued after the ban is lifted.
Recreational campfires are allowed if built in improved fire pits in designated campgrounds, such as those typically found in local, county, and state parks and in commercial campgrounds. On private land,
recreational fires are permitted with the landowner’s permission if built in the following approved manner:
- In a metal, stone or masonry lined fire pit such as those seen in approved campgrounds.
- Size may not exceed 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height.
- Fires must be at least 25 feet from a structure or other combustible material and overhead fuels such
as tree limbs, patio covers or carports.
- Portable outdoor or patio fireplaces should not be used within 15 feet of a structure or combustible
material. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Fires must be attended at all times by a responsible person at least 16-years old with the ability and
tools to extinguish the fire, such as a shovel and either five gallons of water or a connected and
charged water hose.
Please remember - remain in attendance of fire for duration of recreational burning and completely extinguish upon conclusion.
For more information, please contact the Cowlitz County Fire Marshal’s Office at (360) 577-3052 or visit the County’s website at www.co.cowlitz.wa.us

Burn Barrels

are not allowed in Washington State.

Recreational Fires

are defined as a maximum size of 3’x3’x2’ and consisting of only fire wood or charcoal are allowed countywide as long as conditions are safe and the fire is continually attended.

Recreational campfires

Attention: Effective July 19 2023, 12:01 am, PacifiCorp is instituting a temporary campfire restriction at the shoreline dispersed campsites on Yale and Swift Reservoirs. The restriction will remain in effect until further notice. This is intended to prevent unnecessary risk of human caused wildifires in areas where oversight of public use and fire response is not readily available. The shoreline dispersed campsite fire restriction is in line with the Gifford Pinchot National Forest campfire restriction in placed into effect July 10, 2023. This restriction includes building. maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, including charcoal fire and pellet fire within all PacifiCorp shoreline dispersed campsites. Portable cooking stoves and lanterns using liquefied or bottled fuel, such as propane, are still allowed as they can be instantly switched off and do not cause sparks or embers.

Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or charcoal fire is still allowed within the developed campgrounds and day use areas along the Lewis River.

Campfires on Private Land

are permitted with the landowner’s permission if built in the following approved manner: - In a metal, stone or masonry lined fire pit such as those seen in approved campgrounds

- May not exceed 3 feet in diameter

- Located a minimum of 25 feet from any structure or combustible materials including overhead fuels

Campfires must be attended at all times by a responsible person at least 16-years old with the ability and tools to extinguish the fire, such as a shovel and either five gallons of water or a connected and charged water hose.

Be a good neighbor.

Recreational fires may not cause a smoke or odor nuisance to surrounding properties and may be subject to seasonal fire safety burn bans.

Fires are not to be left unattended at any time.

Please remember to completely extinguish campfires by pouring water or moist soil in them and stirring with a shovel until all parts are cool to the touch. The use of self-contained camp stoves is encouraged as an alternative.