The Washington State Department of Natural Resources recently announced there will be a statewide burn ban on all DNR-protected lands July 1-Sept. 30.

This means all forestlands in Washington under DNR fire protection; the burn ban does not apply to federal lands.

The threat of wildfires from escaped outdoor burning is high during the summer months due to dry forest vegetation. Each year, state officials strive to keep all wildfires smaller than 10 acres. Already this year, the Department of Natural Resources has seen 35 wildfire starts simply from escaped outdoor burn piles, which have burned about 434 acres.

“Wildfires are dangerous for people and property and result in large expenditures of public funding that can be avoided through prevention,” Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark said.

The ban will apply to all outdoor burning on DNR-protected forestlands with the following exceptions:

• Recreational fires in approved fire pits within designated state, county, municipal or other campgrounds

• State-approved prescribed fires, implemented to enhance or restore fire-dependent ecosystems and forest health, when enhancement and restoration by prescribed fire can only be accomplished successfully during the period of time from July 1-Sept. 30.

The use of gas and propane self-contained stoves and barbeques will continue to be allowed under the ban.

When implemented, the burn ban will take precedence over and supersede all other burn bans currently in effect on DNR-protected forestlands. The burn ban does not apply to federal lands.