Submitted by DNR

With multiple fires burning on the landscape and communities suffering from dense layers of smoke, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources has expanded its burn ban to cover the entire state.

“Wildfire and smoke is affecting every community around the state as we see the hot, dry summer take its toll on our forests,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz. “Without any relief from this weather in the foreseeable future and with our firefighters spread across the Northwest, we can no longer allow outdoor burning anywhere in Washington.”

DNR has been implementing burn restrictions regionally as local conditions warranted.

The statewide ban means outdoor burning is prohibited on all forest lands that DNR protects from wildfire. Anyone caught violating the burn ban can face fines. Prescribed ecological burns in rare instances may be allowed if expressly approved by Commissioner Franz.

For more information about DNR, visit www.dnr.wa.gov.