Community Police & Fire
Burn ban upgraded in unincorporated Pierce County
It’s time to put away your backyard fire pit. The barbecue is still OK, though.
The Pierce County Fire Marshal’s Office announced this week that it is elevating an existing burn ban to Stage 2, effective Monday, Aug. 17. The step bars all outdoor burning in unincorporated Pierce County, including recreational burn pits and backyard fireplaces.
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A Stage 1 burn ban has been in effect since June 1 in Pierce County. That ban already prohibited things like land-clearing fires and burning of yard debris.
Use of charcoal, gas and wood barbecues is allowed under the Stage 2 ban, as long as they stand on a non-combustible surface.
More than 20 large wildfires burned in Washington state as of Thursday, Aug. 13. While most are in the arid lands of central and eastern Washington, conditions in western Washington aren’t much better.
“Moving to Stage 2 reflects the increasing wildfire risk we’re seeing across Pierce County,” Pierce County Fire Marshal Ken Rice said in a news release. “These restrictions can reduce preventable fires, but they only work when everyone does their part. By following the burn ban, residents help protect their neighbors and ensure emergency resources remain available when they’re needed most.”
Gig Harbor Fire and Medic One responded to at least three significant brush fires near Tacoma Narrows Airport in July. In a social media post, the agency wrote that there’s no reason to believe they were related. Sparks from work occurring at the airport started one of them.
Conditions elsewhere in the state also impact local firefighters. Gig Harbor Fire sent a crew to Spokane last week to combat devastating fires there.
People who violate a burn ban can be cited and fined, according to the Fire Marshal’s Office. They can also be charged “the full cost” if firefighters have to respond to an illegal fire.
Red flag warning
The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning on Thursday (Aug. 13) for areas surrounding Gig Harbor. The warning cites possible thunderstorms and wind gusts of up to 30 mph in the Olympic Mountains and the Cascade foothills in eastern Pierce County.
A red flag warning means that critical fire conditions “are either imminent or occurring now.” The Weather Service notice says that any fires would likely spread quickly.