Fire hazard level is reduced from high to moderate

 information released by Chelan County

All fire restrictions in Chelan County will expire on Friday, the Chelan County fire marshal has announced.

In addition, the fire hazard level on Friday will be reduced from high to moderate in both the Valley and Mountain zones of the county until Nov. 4, said Fire Marshal Stephen Rinaldi.

“The moderate hazard level is a reminder that conditions are improving but caution is still warranted until we get some more rain,” Rinaldi said. “If you are planning on burning any yard debris, we ask that you remain vigilant and make safety a high priority.”

Safety precautions that should be followed when burning residential yard debris include:

  • Keep your burn piles small and manageable.
  • Choose a safe burning site away from powerlines, overhanging limbs, buildings and vehicles.
  • The site should be surrounded by gravel or dirt at least 10 feet in all directions. Keep the surroundings watered down during the burn.
  • Have a means to extinguish the fire, such as a garden hose and shovel, readily available.
  • Never leave a fire unattended.
  • Never burn under windy conditions.
  • Rather than burning your leaves, consider bagging them up for disposal at a local brush drop-off site. Woody materials cause less smoke than leaves.
  • If you are an orchardist, follow established guidelines with your local fire district and the Washington State Department of Ecology.

It is unusual for fire restrictions to remain in Chelan County past Oct. 1. Chelan County Code calls for any imposed travel and activity restrictions related to wildfire season to expire in the unincorporated areas on Oct. 1. However, the county announced late last month that restrictions would remain in place because of the ongoing dry conditions and lack of rain.

“On behalf of the county, I want to thank citizens for complying with these extended fire restrictions,” said Chelan County Commissioner Kevin Overbay. “The community’s cooperation helped limit the number of potential fire starts this wildfire season.”