Effective July 15, the King County Fire Marshal issued a burn ban, which prohibits all outdoor fires except those in established fire pits at approved campgrounds.

The ban is due to the recent dry conditions and no rainfall forecasted in the near future. It is a Phase 1 burn ban and applies to all outdoor burning except for small recreational fires in established fire pits at approved campgrounds or private property with the owner’s permission.

Under the ban, recreational fires must:

1. Be built in a metal or concrete fire pit, such as those typically found in designated campgrounds and not be used as debris disposal.

2. Grow no larger than three feet in diameter.

3. Be located in a clear spot free from any vegetation for at least 10 feet in a horizontal direction, including at least 25 feet away from any structure and allow 20-foot vertical clearance from overhanging branches.

4. Be attended at all times by an alert individual with equipment capable of extinguishing the fire.

Human activity has been responsible for starting 395 of the 421 fires in Washington so far in 2017, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.

This ban remains in effect until further notice.

For more information, visit the King County Department of Permitting and Environmental Review Fire Marshal’s website.