SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash — With fires burning across Washington and North Idaho, the 'Fire Danger Burn Restrictions' remain in effect in Spokane County and Okanogan County.
In Spokane Valley, the Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) has upgraded to wood-burning ban restrictions starting Friday.
It is important that people understand and follow the burn bans in place to avoid more fires.
Here are the current burn ban restrictions in place in Easterner Washington and North Idaho:
Fire Restrictions in Washington lands:
WHAT'S NOT ALLOWED:
- All recreational fires are not allowed. This includes any outdoor fire without a chimney such as a backyard fire pit or campfire using chopped firewood or charcoal.
- All open burning. Any open burning of fields and yard waste is prohibited at all times
WHAT IS ALLOWED:
- Manufactured portable outdoor devices. This includes fireplaces, chimineas, barbeques, and patio warmers used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
- Approved fuels in appropriate devices. This includes clean and dry seasoned firewood, charcoal, natural gas, or propane gas.
- Designated campfires in parks and campgrounds may be allowed as approved and terminated by agencies with jurisdiction.
The following activities are prohibited on lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Bureau of Reclamation (BOR):
- Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or stove fire, including charcoal briquette fire.
- Smoking while traveling in timber, brush or grass areas, except in vehicles on roads or on boats on rivers and or lakes, or in cleared areas at least three feet in diameter.
- Because of the elevated fire danger, operating any type of motorized vehicle off developed roadways is prohibited. Parking of vehicles off roadways must be done in an area barren of flammable materials. All motorcycles and All-Terrain Vehicles must be equipped with a properly functioning approved and properly functioning spark arrestor.
Additional restrictions and prohibitions in Washington include the following:
- Discharging or using fireworks or pyrotechnic devices
- Discharging or using combustible or explosive composition or chemical devices, including exploding targets
- Discharging or using tracer, explosive, or incendiary ammunition
- Discharging steel component (core or jacket) ammunition
- Releasing or causing to be released any sky lanterns, airborne paper lanterns, aerial luminaries or fire balloons
- Shooting at any metallic object, including but not limited to using metal targets for target shooting
Unauthorized open burning and unauthorized recreational fires are restricted until the order is lifted.
Any person that doesn't follow the burn restriction order could be charged with a misdemeanor under IFC 109; SCC 3.02, which can result in no more than $1,000 or no more than 90 days in jail.
Spokane Valley wood burning ban restrictions
The Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) has upgraded new fire restrictions for the Spokane Valley area. Starting, Friday, Aug. 11, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is banning all open burning in the Northwest Region. This means no campgrounds or wood-burning appliances on unimproved properties can be used.
Propane and natural gas appliances like BBQs and fire tables in a backyard setting are still allowed.
SVFD says the DNR’s wood-burning ban is a step to keep communities safe, lowering fire risk by reducing the number of human-caused wildfires.
“We always grow more concerned this time of year when it doesn’t take much to spark a fire,” said Spokane Valley Fire Department Deputy Fire Marshal, Brett Anderson. “SVFD is responding daily to brush fires within our Fire District. We ask our community to remain vigilant in their fire-safe practices. Fuels like pine needles, brush, and plants have been drying out for months and will catch fire easily."
Unauthorized open burning and unauthorized recreational fires are restricted until this order is lifted. Those who don't follow the order and fail to take immediate action to extinguish or discontinue such burning when ordered or notified would be charged with a misdemeanor.
Fire Restrictions within Idaho State Parks
As areas of Idaho move to Stage 2 fire restrictions, the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) will implement the ban on campfires and will also be banning propane-fueled fire rings.
As of Wednesday, Aug. 9, most of Idaho’s north region state parks are banning campfires and propane-fueled fire rings. Propane grills and cooking stoves are still permitted at this time.
Currently, the only other portion of Idaho with fire restrictions is Central Idaho at Stage 1. While this does not prohibit campfires or propane-fueled fire rings, fires are only allowed within permitted fire rings.
These are the current parks with campfire and propane-fueled fire ring bans in North Idaho:
- Priest Lake State Park
- Round Lake State Park
- Farragut State Park
- Heyburn State Park
- McCroskey State Park
For more information about fire restrictions, visit the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL).
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