(Emergency Closure of Outdoor Burning on Private
Lands in Skamania County)
WHEREAS, weather conditions have created a situation of increasing fire danger throughout Skamania County, whereby there is a need to further regulate outdoor burning on lands not under the jurisdiction of the Department of Natural Resources or Federal Government to protect life and property; and
WHEREAS, public safety could be jeopardized if outdoor burning on private lands were allowed to continue during this dry season; and
WHEREAS, Skamania County adopted Ordinance 1994-07 which sets out open burning and emergency closure procedures;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that an emergency fire danger is hereby declared in Skamania County due to extremely dry weather conditions; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all outdoor burning without a special written permit issued by the Board of Commissioners or Fire Marshall on non-state and non-federal lands (all private lands) in Skamania County effective midnight Thursday, July 18, 2002 is hereby prohibited. Except for fires within occupied structures (such as wood stoves, fireplaces etc). Also, designated occupied campsites where such fires are built in a permanent or portable barbecue, outdoor fireplace, incinerator or grill. These items must be keep at a minimum of 30 feet from any grass, grain, brush, or forest covered areas. Campfires in established campgrounds approved by a local, state, or federal agency that are not otherwise closed by that agency are exempt from these restrictions; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any violation of this emergency resolution shall subject the violator to the penalties set our in Ordinance 1994-07 (see Skamania County Code Chapter 8.14); and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that this ban will expire on the 30th day of September, 2002 unless otherwise sooner terminated or extended by the Board.
PASSED IN REGULAR SESSION this 15th day of July 2002.