Gregoire bans outdoor burning in Eastern Washington
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Faced with continuing wildfire danger, Gov. Chris Gregoire has ordered an immediate ban on all outdoor and agricultural burning in Eastern Washington.
The governor said Friday that more warm, dry weather is expected and the potential for additional fire activity is "incredibly high." The ban will last through Tuesday.
The ban includes campfires, bonfires, yard clean-up and land clearing.
Any more-restrictive local rules will remain in effect. A statewide burn ban is in place through Sept. 30 on all lands protected by the state Department of Natural Resources.
On Thursday, Gregoire signed an emergency declaration for Eastern Washington, where seven large wildfire complexes have burned across several hundred square miles of parched land.
Two Washington National Guard helicopters authorized by that declaration joined the fight against wildfires near Wenatchee on Friday. They're equipped to drop water on the flames.
Health officials continue to warn of poor air quality across the state.
The governor said Friday that more warm, dry weather is expected and the potential for additional fire activity is "incredibly high." The ban will last through Tuesday.
The ban includes campfires, bonfires, yard clean-up and land clearing.
Any more-restrictive local rules will remain in effect. A statewide burn ban is in place through Sept. 30 on all lands protected by the state Department of Natural Resources.
On Thursday, Gregoire signed an emergency declaration for Eastern Washington, where seven large wildfire complexes have burned across several hundred square miles of parched land.
Two Washington National Guard helicopters authorized by that declaration joined the fight against wildfires near Wenatchee on Friday. They're equipped to drop water on the flames.
Health officials continue to warn of poor air quality across the state.
You would have thought they would have called for a burn ban a long time ago, like when the Taylor Bridge fire got out of control. Heck they had red flag warnings before now. One would think that a red flag warning and a burn ban would go hand in hand. Apparently the state can have a red flag warning without a burn ban, what a lot of sense that makes. I guess burn bans are too associated with poor air quality for the state to think much otherwise.
Who would have thunk to ban burning in a wild fire area? She's so smart.
 @Rockberry You know what? I'm no fan of hers either, I think she's a total dingbat, but you know what? At least I'm smart enough to tell when she's making the right call to prevent further disasters. You sound like on eof those haters that just wants to rip into every single thing someone like her does, good OR bad!
Typical Washington. Too little too late. What a crock. Banning something that has already happened. I know lets do a multimillion dollar... oh wait we are dumb asses here in Washington...multibillion dollar study about outdoor and agricultural burning in Eastern Washington that will do it.
 @TheLogicOne To post what I said earlier, I hate to play the "obviously common sense" card on ya, but I'm guessing it to maybe help prevent more in the futre ya think? Maybe that's what burn bans are for? Don't rack your brain trying to figure that out! Really not living up to your name.
 @TheLogicOne It's about keeping it from getting worse. These fires were caused by the lightning storms that moved through the area last week, no way to prevent mother nature.
Well, some of those fires are man made. Whether by accident, ignorance or malice is irrelevent at this point. This is an obvious to-protect-everyone-we-have-to-inconvenience-someone type move.
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 @smokepole I hate to play the "obviously common sense" card on ya, but I'm guessing it to maybe help prevent more in the futre ya think? Maybe that's what burn bans are for? Don't rack your brain trying to figure that out!
@Zoso @smokepole Exactly, I guess some folks don't understand that some farmers and orchardists burn slash and weeds, even though they are not in a wildfire area.