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Current fire hazard designation and restrictions

Current Conditions: Effective Sept. 22, 2023

 

Chelan County Valley Zone

Chelan County Mountain Zone

Fire Danger Rating High High
Restrictions Stage 1 Stage 1

 

Chelan County uses a system of fire danger ratings and fire restrictions to inform the public of both conditions and restrictions during fire season, which is typically June 1 to Oct. 1. The full details are outlined in Chapter 7.52 of the Chelan County Code. 

A fire danger rating, also called a fire hazard rating, refers to the fire-prone conditions in an area. In Chelan County, there are four ratings: moderate, high, very high and extreme.

Fire restrictions refer to those restrictions placed on travel and outdoor activities because of the current conditions. General fire restrictions go into place annually on June 1. Restrictions then progressively move to Stage 1, Stage 2 and Stage 3, with Stage 3 being the highest level of restrictions. All restrictions are removed annually on Oct. 1 unless the Board of County Commissioners passes a resolution, extending the restrictions.

 

GENERAL RESTRICTIONS (begin annually on June 1)

  • Outdoor, open burning of grass, leaves, brush and other natural materials is prohibited.
  • Motorists cannot drive off a county roadway, except to access open public lands.
  • The use of exploding targets and incendiary ammunition is prohibited.
  • Recreational fireworks are prohibited in Chelan County.
  • Residential campfires are allowed in a designated campfire area, including a portable fire pit.
  • Fires are allowed in commerical barbecues and camp stoves.
  • Smoking materials (cigarettes, for example) should always be properly disposed of in a metal or non-combustible container; never discard cigarettes or other smoking materials in vegetation or flower beds or leave them burning near combustible materials.

 

STAGE 1

  • All General Restrictions apply.
  • Restricted open-flame devices. An open-flame device can be anything that has a flame that is capable of igniting other materials. Approved open-flame devices are:

Pressurized gas camp stoves, catalytic heaters and white gas camp stoves and lanterns
Commercially made and labeled barbeque devices
Stove or fireplace fires completely contained within a home or residence
Propane or pressurized white gas warming devices with a shield and base
An enclosed solid fuel fire that utilizes a wick to distribute the flame
Listed gas campfire devices
Commercial operators can obtain a permit from the county fire marshal or permission from the appropriate fire protection agency for non-labeled devices

  • Residential campfires continue to be allowed in a designated campfire area, including a portable fire pit.
  • Fires are allowed in commercial barbecues and camp stoves.

 

 

STAGE 2

  • All Stage 1 restrictions apply.
  • Educational barricades are placed on designated county roadways to alert the public to the fire hazard conditions.
  • No target shooting is allowed outside of a gun range. Hunting is allowed in open areas.
  • Residential campfires are not allowed.
  • The use of commercial barbecues and camp stoves is allowed. The use of charcoal briquettes is only allowed in a commercially made barbecue.

 

STAGE 3

  • All Stage 2 restrictions apply.
  • The County may close identified roads in high fire-prone areas.

 

RESOURCES

Chelan County Code

Chelan County Fire Marshal

Chelan County Facebook page

Chelan County Emergency Incident Map

 

Last Updated: 09/19/2023 02:17 PM

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