County lifts burn ban on campfires

With cooler, wetter weather in the forecast, a Grays Harbor County burn ban has been modified to allow for campfires, according to the county fire marshal’s office, fire districts and departments.

The ban on campfires was lifted Tuesday morning. All residential burning, along with land clearing and burning, will be prohibited until further notice.

Recreational campfires are permitted 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, fires can be no greater than 3 feet in diameter and ringed with metal, stone or brick 8 inches above the ground surface, with a 2-foot-wide area cleared down to exposed soil around the outside of the pit.

The fire must also have 10 feet around it cleared of flammable material and at least 20 feet of clearance from overhead flammable materials or fuels. The campfire must be attended at all times and completely extinguished until cool to the touch.

For updates on burn restrictions, contact the fire marshal’s office at 360-249-4222.