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Fire restrictions in Chelan County come off Oct. 28

All fire restrictions in Chelan County will expire on Friday, Oct. 28, the Chelan County fire marshal recently announced.

In addition, the fire hazard level on Oct. 28 will be reduced from high to moderate in both the Valley and Mountain zones of the county until Nov. 4, said Fire Marshal Stephen Rinaldi.

“The moderate hazard level is a reminder that conditions are improving but caution is still warranted until we get some more rain,” Rinaldi said. “If you are planning on burning any yard debris, we ask that you remain vigilant and make safety a high priority.”

Safety precautions that should be followed when burning residential yard debris include:

  • Keep your burn piles small and manageable.
  • Choose a safe burning site away from powerlines, overhanging limbs, buildings and vehicles.
  • The site should be surrounded by gravel or dirt at least 10 feet in all directions. Keep the surroundings watered down during the burn.
  • Have a means to extinguish the fire, such as a garden hose and shovel, readily available.
  • Never leave a fire unattended.
  • Never burn under windy conditions.
  • Rather than burning your leaves, consider bagging them up for disposal at a local brush drop-off site. Woody materials cause less smoke than leaves.
  • If you are an orchardist, follow established guidelines with your local fire district and the Washington State Department of Ecology.

It is unusual for fire restrictions to remain in Chelan County past Oct. 1. Chelan County Code calls for any imposed travel and activity restrictions related to wildfire season to expire in the unincorporated areas on Oct. 1. However, the county announced late last month that restrictions would remain in place because of the ongoing dry conditions and lack of rain.

“On behalf of the county, I want to thank citizens for complying with these extended fire restrictions,” said Chelan County Commissioner Kevin Overbay. “The community’s cooperation helped limit the number of potential fire starts this wildfire season.”

Last Updated: 10/26/2022 12:55 PM

Chelan County Calendar

Upcoming events and schedules at the county!

  • 15
    May 2024
    07:00 PM - 08:00 PM

    Assessor's Office Community Meeting: Leavenworth and Lake Wenatchee

    Posted by: Chelan County Assessor

    Chelan County Assessor Wes Cornelius invites property owners and all interested parties to attend one of four community meetings scheduled this spring throughout the county.

    Chelan County Fire District 3 station
  • 13
    May 2024
    08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

    Final day to withdraw from the ballot

    Posted by: Chelan County Elections

    Final day to withdraw from the ballot

  • 10
    May 2024
    05:00 PM - 05:30 PM

    Lot Drawing for Candidates

    Posted by: Chelan County Elections

    Lot drawing for candidates placement on the ballot.

    Chelan County Elections Office
  • 08
    May 2024
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Chelan County Civil Service Commission

    Posted by: Human Resources

    The Chelan County Civil Service Commission will be meeting on May 8, 2024.

    Chelan County Commissioners Office, ES Conference Room.
  • 06
    May 2024
    08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

    Elections: Candidate Filing Week

    Posted by: Chelan County Elections

    Candidate filing week.