Naches Fire Info

[Grumpy]

FYI

U.S. FOREST SERVICE NEWS RELEASE
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
215 Melody Lane
Wenatchee, WA 98801

For immediate release: August 7, 2012 2:00 PM
Contacts: Nancy Jones, 509-852-1011 or Doug Jenkins, 509-653-1468

Campfire and Woodcutting Restrictions Go into Effect on
Naches and Cle Elum Ranger Districts
Naches/Cle Elum—continuing hot, dry weather conditions and increasing fire danger have prompted Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest officials to implement restrictions on the use of campfires on the Naches and Cle Elum Ranger Districts in Kittitas and Yakima Counties.
Under the new restrictions, wood and charcoal fires are allowed only in designated Wilderness areas on national forest lands in Kittitas and Yakima Counties.
"Conditions are very dry at lower elevations and are quickly drying out at our middle elevations," said Mike Starkovich, Fire Management Officer for the Yakima River Fire Division.
"With dry weather conditions forecast for the coming weeks, and temperatures expected to remain high, it's critical that we take steps to try and limit the threat of wildfire from other sources where we can," Starkovich said. “Also, firefighters have seen a dramatic increase in abandoned and escaped campfires all summer long, especially in the past week. These restrictions will hopefully reduce the number of responses our firefighters have to make now that campfires are prohibited in on both the Naches and Cle Elum Ranger Districts.â€