RESOLUTION   2003-29

 

 

                                    (Emergency Closure of Outdoor Burning on Private 

                                                       Lands in Skamania County)

 

 

 

WHEREAS, the Skamania County Fire Marshall, pursuant to SCC 8.14.050, recommends the Board of Commissioners declare an emergency ban on July 16, 2003 on all outdoor burning within the unincorporated areas of the County.

 

WHEREAS, recent dry and warm weather conditions have created an increasing risk of fire danger throughout Skamania County, whereby there is a need to further regulate outdoor burning on lands not under the jurisdiction of the Department of Natural Resources or Federal government to protect life and property; and

 

WHEREAS, public safety could be jeopardized if outdoor burning on private lands were allowed to continue during this dry season; and

 

WHEREAS, Skamania County adopted Ordinance 1994-07, 2000-08, and 2001-07 which sets out open burning and emergency closure procedures;

 

 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Commissioners have reviewed the Fire Marshal’s request for emergency closure and hereby determines that the closure should be in effect and continue due to extremely dry weather conditions; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Skamania County Board of Commissioners closes all outdoor burning without a written permit issued by the Board of Commissioners on non-state and non-federal lands (all private lands) in Skamania County effective midnight Wednesday, July 16, 2003; Except that fires which are maintained within a fireplace or wood stove within a habited residence; or outdoor fires, that under the supervision of an adult, within designated campsites, where such fires are built in a permanent barbecue, portable barbecue, or outdoor fireplace located at a minimum of 30 feet from a grass-,grain-, brush- or forest area; or outdoor fires that are campfires in established campgrounds that have been approved by a local, state, or federal agency and have not otherwise been closed by that agency are exempt from these restrictions; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that violation of this emergency resolution shall subject the violator to the penalties set out in Ordinance 1994-07, 2000-08, and 2001-07; and

 

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that this ban will expire on the 30th day of September 2003 unless the Board otherwise determines that the dangerous conditions continue to exist and the Board extends the outdoor burn ban by resolution.

 

 

RESOLUTION NO. 2003-29 IS HEREBY APPROVED AND ADOPTED in regular session this 14th day of July 2003.