Effective immediately, the cities of Centralia and Chehalis will ban all outdoor fires within the city limits after consultation with the Riverside Fire Authority (RFA) and the Chehalis Fire Department, a pair of news releases from the cities announced.
This will prohibit all outdoor burning, which includes recreational fires. Until modified by the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners, Riverside Fire Authority, Chehalis Fire Department or the Lewis County Fire Marshal, only liquid gas or propane camp stoves that do not use solid briquettes and have on and off controls are permitted. This decision was made due to the continued, worsening dry season conditions.
In addition, Lewis County as a whole has enacted a total burn ban due to dry weather conditions and fires throughout the region. A statewide fire ban is also in place.
The county announced Monday that it would expand its usual summer burn restrictions to bar all outdoor fires — including recreational fires — in the unincorporated parts of the county. The use of propane or liquid gas field camp stoves without briquettes and with on and off controls is still allowed.
The RFA and Chehalis Fire Department, in coordination with the chiefs of local fire districts, strongly urge all residents and property owners to be attentive to the conditions of their properties through proactive fire prevention measures. While the cities recognize that this decision may alter recreational plans, the decision to impose an outdoor burning ban reflects the priority of public safety and the protection of personnel as well as property, according to the releases.
A total outdoor burning ban will remain in effect until such discontinuance is modified or rescinded. A public announcement of the lifting of the restrictions and ban will be released to the public at that time.
