Current through Register Vol. 24-18, September 15, 2024
(1) Where
are recreational campfires permitted?
(a) Within department-designated
campgrounds or day-use facilities, persons may have campfires only in
the department-provided campfire enclosures.
(b) On department-managed lands
outside of designated campgrounds or day-use facilities, campfires
are not allowed without advance written authorization from the
department unless otherwise posted.
(2) Can the department impose
additional restrictions for fires? The department may impose or post
additional restrictions related to the use of fire on
department-managed lands for the protection of people, public
resources, and other property.
(3) What are the responsibilities
of the person constructing, igniting, maintaining or utilizing the
campfire where campfires are permitted? The person responsible for
the campfire shall ensure that:
(a)
All of the requirements in subsection (1) of this section are
met;
(b) All flammable
material shall be cleared for a sufficient distance adequate to
prevent the escape of fires;
(c) The campfire is made only from
a pile of natural untreated wood materials, including manufactured
fire logs, no larger than four feet in diameter with flames kept at a
safe height for the circumstances;
(d) The campfire is not prohibited
in the particular location or at the time of ignition as determined
by the department or other authority;
(e) A person capable of
extinguishing the campfire must attend the campfire at all
times;
(f) The fire is
burning only during periods of calm to very light winds when wind
will not scatter loose flammable materials, such as dry leaves and
clippings; and
(g) The
fire is completely extinguished before leaving it
unattended.
(4) Can firewood from
department-managed lands be gathered and used for a campfire?
(a) Yes. Persons may gather
firewood for their personal use while camping or using
department-managed lands, except where posted or otherwise prohibited
in these rules.
(b) No
person shall gather firewood within the boundaries of any developed
recreation facility.
(c)
Firewood shall be collected only from dead and down material that is
twelve inches or less in diameter at its largest point.
(d) No standing trees, living or
dead, may be felled for use as firewood.
(e) Persons shall not remove
firewood for their personal use from department-managed lands without
a valid firewood permit.
(f) Persons shall not gather or use
any live, dead, or downed wood or vegetation from streams or
rivers.
(5)
Any violation of this section is an infraction under
chapter 7.84 RCW.
Statutory Authority:
Chapter 43.30 RCW and
RCW 43.12.065.
09-05-034, § 332-52-135, filed 2/11/09, effective
3/14/09.
