Hot, dry conditions increase fire danger

With heat and drought rapidly increasing fire danger in Washington, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) expanded the burn ban statewide, from June 22 through September 30, 2015.

The statewide burn ban applies to state forests, state parks and forestlands under DNR fire protection. It does not include federally owned lands such as national forests, national parks, national wildlife refuges or other areas administered by federal agencies.

In 2015 so far, there have been 306 wildfire starts throughout the state. Last year’s fire season was the biggest on record in Washingto...