State burn ban ends; aid sought for E. Washington

OLYMPIA — Washington's statewide outdoor burn ban is scheduled to end Oct. 1, but state fire officials caution the end of the restriction should not be mistaken for the end of fire season. Washington Dept. of Natural Resources Public Information Officer Ryan Rodruck said the state is still waiting for a season-ending rainfall event. “Just because the burn ban is ending does not mean that the fuels out there will not still carry fire,” Rodruck said. “They absolutely will. The chance of large, costly fires has decreased significantly, but we will still continue to see fire on the landscape, potentially, for the next few weeks. We urge community members to use caution and follow local guidelines with any burning they may do following the end of the burn ban.”