King County’s burn ban has been extended due to the dry weather we’ve had in the last month. According to our newspartners, The Seattle Times, we are close to setting the record for the longest dry stretch in history. The Times reports that Monday was the 43rd straight day without measurable rain at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The record, 51 days, was set in 1951, says the Times. The burn ban was started July 15 and was set to expire at the end of August, but the King County Fire Marshal has extended the ban until further notice.
The ban is Phase 1, which applies to all outdoor burning except for small recreational fires in established fire pits at approved camp grounds or private property with the owner’s permission, according to the county.
They say these fires must:
- Be built in a metal or concrete fire pit, such as those typically found in designated campgrounds; and not be used as debris disposal;
- Grow no larger than three feet in diameter;
- Be located in a clear spot free from any vegetation for at least 10 feet in a horizontal direction, including at least 25 feet away from any structure and allow 20-foot vertical clearance from overhanging branches; and
- Be attended at all times by an alert individual and equipment capable of extinguishing the fire shall be in constant attendance at the site while burning.
To learn more about the ban, click here.
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