Restrictions also in place on Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Information released by DNR
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced Thursday the following increases in fire danger and industrial fire precaution levels (IFPL) on DNR-protected lands. This corresponds to restrictions in place on Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Lands.
Effective Friday, Aug. 2, 2019 at 12:01 a.m.:
- Fire danger will increase from moderate to high in the Highlands Fire Danger Rating Area.
- Fire danger will increase from high to very high in the Valley, Chelan, Lower Basin and Upper Basin Fire Danger Rating Area (FDRA).
Effective Monday, Aug. 5, 2019 at 12:01 a.m.:
- IFPL increases to a level 2 in zones 678 & 678W.
Daily updates on burn restrictions are available at 1-800-323-BURN (2876) or on the Fire Danger and Outdoor Burning risk map at https://fortress.wa.gov/dnr/protection/firedanger/ and IFPL map at http://www.dnr.wa.gov/ifpl.
New Fire Danger Rating System
In Eastern Washington, a new fire danger rating system has been implemented. Instead of basing the fire danger rating by county, it is now based on geographic areas that share similar fuels, climate, and topography in addition to administrative boundaries and is now called Fire Danger Rating Areas. This change was developed with the intent of having a common fire behavior component, and was developed through interagency collaboration and to help clarify messages with multiple agencies.
The IFPL system
Industrial Fire Precaution Levels apply to all industrial operations that might cause a fire on or adjacent to lands protected from fire by DNR (WAC 332-24-301); this applies to logging, industrial and forest landowner operations.
The levels are established for each of the 38 “shutdown zones” in the state on the basis of National Fire Danger Rating System data.
There are four IFPL levels:
- Level 1 (closed fire season): fire equipment and a fire watch are required
- Level 2 (partial hoot owl): limits certain activities to between 8 p.m. and 1 p.m.; fire equipment and a fire watch are required
- Level 3 (partial shutdown): prohibits some activities and limits others to between 8 p.m. and 1 p.m.; fire equipment and a fire watch are required
- Level 4 (general shutdown): prohibits all activities
DNR’s wildfire mission
Led by Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, DNR is responsible for preventing and fighting wildfires on 13 million acres of private, state and tribal-owned land. DNR is the state’s largest wildfire fighting force.
