Recreational fires will soon be prohibited in unincorporated Clark County due to extreme fire danger.
The ban goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 9. It is in addition to the general outdoor burning prohibition implemented on July 15, according to a news release.
“The ongoing hot, dry weather has us concerned with how easy it is for a fire to be ignited by an escaped ember from a recreational fire,” Fire Marshal Dan Young stated in the release. “A small campfire can accidentally spread to adjacent properties very easily with our current dry conditions.”
Young said the preventative measure aims to reduce the risk of grass or brush fires as a result of escaped campfires. The ban has been imposed alongside ones in the cities of Camas and Washougal.
The ban will remain in place until sufficient rainfall occurs to lower the risk. The release stated no precipitation and estimated temperatures of 80 to 90 degree is expected to continue.
Residents in rural and urban areas should create a defensible space around their homes to prevent wildfire from spreading to a residence or vice versa, stated the release.
People are encouraged to remove fire “fuel” within three to five feet of foundations, outbuildings, garages and sheds; within 10 feet of a house; under decks and porches; and from gutters, eaves, porches and decks.
People are also encouraged to cut their lawn if it is brown and to dispose of the debris and cuttings. Trees should be pruned so the lowest branches are six to 10 feet above the ground and people are encouraged to landscape with native and flame-resistant plants.
Self-contained camp stoves, which are not included in the ban, “are a safe and easy alternative for outdoor cooking,” stated the release.
