The Clark County Fire Marshal plans to lift the countywide burn ban early due to an abundance of rain and cooler temperatures.
Fire Marshal Jon Dunaway said the ban on outdoor debris burning in unincorporated Clark County will be lifted 8 a.m. Friday.
“It is very unusual for us to lift the annual burn ban before the end of September. But given the moisture levels of the wildfire fuels and the forecast for ongoing precipitation, it just makes sense,” Dunaway said in a news release.
Heavy downpours dominated the weather scene over September’s first full weekend. It cleared up a bit the following week, but the rain has stuck around for most of the month.
The National Weather Service in Portland says there’s a 40 percent chance of rain Friday for Vancouver, with the high temperature reaching 66 degrees. A similar pattern follows until at least Monday, according to forecasters.
Despite the wet weather, Dunaway urged residents to remain vigilant when starting and extinguishing fires. Always watch a permitted fire until it is completely extinguished and cold to the touch, he said.
Permits for small open burning fires, less than 10 feet in diameter, can be obtained online or at your local fire district station. Outdoor burning of yard debris or for land clearing purposes is illegal within city limits and urban growth areas.
More information about when and where burning is allowed can be found here.
