Campfires, briquets, banned in Washington State Parks as of Aug 12

[Bobbie Mayer]

Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission

[fusedlight]

Understandable. When we rolled through a couple of weeks ago there were fires all over the place. Man AND nature caused... When we were going through Oregon (I think) we were in a horrendous lightning storm. We saw a strike on the ground a couple of miles away. By the time we got there, probably no more than 10 minutes, there was already a range fire bigger than a couple of acres. Scary.

[Bobbie Mayer]

Makes sense in PARTS of Washington. In much of the state fire danger is low to moderate, and this year, for some insane reason, the ban went on not when the DNR ban did, but a month later, after the rain started to fall. And I question whether banning briquets but allowing propane ever makes sense in a park. Just because you can turn it off doesn't mean propane can't start a fire- you can't turn the fire off with a knob. I'm going camping next week, rain is predicted half the time, but we can't use charcoal?

[GMike A]

I drove through the Methow valley and Winthrop last week and it was still smoldering. Firemen were still out there in droves turning over logs and wetting them down. I hate to see when the rains come as there is no vegetation on the hillsides. I saw lots of fruit orchards scorched. It was not a pretty sight.

[paulw]

Not sure who the genius is who came up with the one size fit all policy for WA state parks... probably never camped on the coast... we're at Grayland with a 4" deep puddle outside our door and no charcoal cooking allowed...

[Bobbie Mayer]

Originally Posted by paulw

Not sure who the genius is who came up with the one size fit all policy for WA state parks... probably never camped on the coast... we're at Grayland with a 4" deep puddle outside our door and no charcoal cooking allowed...

Last year they put it on early and took it off when the rain started- this is just stupid. Since it just started on the 12th, well after some soaking rains, the likelihood is they won't lift it just because the fire danger is down.

[Glenn Baglo]

Interesting that we have so many people here with expertise in fire suppression and fire fighting.

[Jack L]

It was just announced in The Oregonian that the ban on campfires has been removed for campgrounds WEST of the Cascades.

[Bobbie Mayer]

Originally Posted by Jack L

It was just announced in The Oregonian that the ban on campfires has been removed for campgrounds WEST of the Cascades.

Yay!

[paulw]

Just heard they were lifting the ban at Grayland so we can beat our Dutch ovens with brickettes as planned.