Burn ban in effect for unincorporated King County

KING COUNTY, Wash. — King County Fire Marshal Chris Ricketts has issued a Phase 1 burn ban for unincorporated areas of King County.

The burn ban begins Monday and will remain in effect until further notice.

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The burn ban applies to all outdoor burning and comes as the National Weather Service also issued a Red Flag Warning for parts of western Washington from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday due to potentially high wildfire conditions.

During a Red Flag Warning, recreational fires in the specified areas are prohibited. When the warning is lifted, the phase 1 burn ban in King County will still be in place.

The ban applies to all outdoor burning except for small recreational fires “in established fire pats at approved campgrounds of private property with the owner’s permission.”

Ricketts said recreational fires still pose a risk and said they 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 3 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.
• Be attended at all times by an alert individual with equipment capable of extinguishing the fire.

Rickets also added that due to COVID-19, residents should follow social distancing guidelines, wear face coverings and stay 6 feet apart.

People with properties located within cities in King County are asked to contact their local jurisdiction for requirements.

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Cox Media Group