OLYMPIA — Some new campfire restrictions were announced this week for Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest.
Due to dry conditions, high fire danger, and the number of resources already being spread thin by active fires, campfires in the Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park will be restricted to established fire rings only, starting on July 11.
That means backcountry campfires, charcoal grills, and other equipment that create ash will not be allowed. Gas or propane camp stoves with a shut-off valve or lever that extinguishes the flame immediately are permitted, but these stoves should be operated far from flammable vegetation and forest litter.
This restriction also applies to Olympic National Park’s coastal beaches and to the Quinault and Hoh rainforests.
Fire Management Officer Jeff Bortner said the ongoing Bear Gulch Fire shows how fast fires can grow under the current conditions. He said when firefighters are responding to other incidents across the region, it’s even more important to prevent any more human-caused starts.