| Forest Service Joint News Release |
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| Unprecedented conditions and recent heatwave lead to early fire restrictions at Olympic and Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forests Everett, WA, July 2, 2021— Due to the combination of unprecedented conditions, the recent heatwave and the Fourth of July holiday approaching the Olympic and Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forests are implementing fire restrictions, effective immediately, that will only allow fires in designated areas (linked below). Officials are also reminding the public that all fireworks – sparklers included – are prohibited on all federal public lands, including the Olympic and Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forests, year-round regardless of weather conditions. Prior to the recent heatwave, precipitation levels were already below average this year elevating wildfire risk across the western side of Washington state. The record-breaking temperatures felt across the Pacific Northwest this week have resulted in rapid drying, quickly elevating the fire danger across the state to a level not typically seen at this time of year. “Much of Western Washington is abnormally dry, the recent record-breaking heat wave has exacerbated the situation, and we are still expecting hotter- and drier-than-normal conditions as we continue into the peak of summer,” said Kit Moffitt, Acting Fire Staff Officer for the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. “People often assume parts of Western Washington are not at risk of wildfire,” said Todd Rankin, Fire Management Officer for Olympic Interagency Fire Management. “But even places like the Quinault and Hoh rainforests and beaches along the coast are susceptible too.” By following these safety tips and only having fires in areas where campfires are allowed, visitors can help prevent avoidable wildfires: 1. Let the night sky be your show
2. Keep campfires small
3. Attend your campfire at all times
4. Extinguish all campfires before leaving – even if gone for a short period of time
Call 911 or your local non-emergency line to report illegal use of fireworks or unsafe fire use. Additional campfire and wildfire safety information can be found at www.smokeybear.com. ### |
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Campfires Banned in Lake Chelan National Recreation Area and Portions of North Cascades National Park |