WDFW lifts most fire restrictions; ban remains in Columbia Basin Wildlife Area

OLYMPIA — With lower temperatures and higher humidity reducing wildfire danger, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife says it lifted fire restrictions Friday, including the ban on target shooting on most land managed by the department.

“People are welcome to build campfires and sight in their hunting firearms on lands managed by WDFW,” said Cynthia Wilkerson, WDFW lands division manager, in a press release. “As always, we urge people to recreate responsibly and be cautious when doing activities that could spark a wildfire or cause other damage to habitat.”

Some restrictions remain in south-central Washington, including a campfire ban through Oct. 15 on all WDFW wildlife areas in Benton, Franklin, Yakima and Kittitas counties, as these habitats remain more vulnerable to fire longer into the fall, WDFW stated. A campfire ban is in place through Oct. 31 at the Columbia Basin Wildlife Area in Adams and Grant counties, and at the Klickitat Wildlife Area in Klickitat County due to their drier, more sensitive nature.

The Oak Creek Wildlife Area Unit, which was impacted by the Schneider Springs fire, reopened in late September, except for parcels within the U.S. Forest Service closure boundary.

WDFW institutes bans in hot summer months to reduce fire risk across the state on department-managed lands and surrounding public lands and communities, WDFW stated.

For more information, visit www.dnr.wa.gov, or www.fs.usda.gov.