Due to changing weather conditions, Vancouver Fire Marshal Heidi Scarpelli on Tuesday lifted the recreational burning ban in Vancouver.
Recreational fires, campfires and fires in outdoor fireplaces or chimney-type devices are now allowed, the marshal’s office said. The order applies only within the city limits.
Outdoor burning of things like brush, vegetation and garbage is still prohibited within the city limits.
The Camas-Washougal Fire Department also lifted its burn ban.
Clark County Fire Marshal Jon Dunaway said his office has been fielding calls about the status of the burn ban after the weekend’s rain, but said he wants to coordinate with the state Department of Natural Resources and county fire district chiefs before modifying the county’s burn ban, which remains in place.
When the county alters its burn ban, he said, he’d rather it be countywide — including every fire district and all DNR-managed land — rather than piecemeal, to avoid confusion.
He said he’ll propose reviewing the burn ban at the next meeting of the county fire chiefs, which is Thursday.
Currently, the countywide burn ban prohibits burning in campfires, outdoor fire pits, outdoor fireplaces — including those with chimneys — and portable fireplaces or patio fireplaces. Gas and charcoal barbecues and self-contained camp stoves are permitted.
“If everybody’s on board then we’ll lift the recreational piece,” he said. “If not, then we’re going to let it go until we get some more rain.”
The county burn ban is set to expire Sept. 30.
Dunaway said the county hasn’t seen that much rain in the past several days, relatively speaking, and it wouldn’t take too long for a string of warmer, sunnier days to undo the work of the past days’ rain and humid air.
