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JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO:
Board of County Commissioners ~
AI Scalf, Diredor of Community Developme~
June 20, 2011
FROM:
DATE:
RE:
Burning Ban for the 2011 fire season on open debris burning not including
recreational fires.
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
Staffpresents for Board of County Commissioner (BOCC) consideration a resolution to
implement a burning ban for east Jefferson County during the 2011 fire season. This resolution
reflects the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) burn ban implementation plan
developed because of the Commissioner of Public Lands order dated April 28, 2011. Staff
requests the BOCC review the draft resolution and subsequently approve the resolution by
affinnative vote of the BOCC to establish the burning ban.
ANALYSIS:
In 2005, Jefferson County established a County wide burning ban program based upon the DNR
fire danger rating system. Should the DNR issue a moderate or high level for fire danger then
Jefferson County would implement a burning ban in east Jefferson County. Jefferson County
has ordered burning curtailments during the summer fire season for the last six years.
For 2011, the Department of Natural Resources is invoking an outdoor burning ban on
forestlands protected by the Department of Natural Resources from July 1 through September 30.
A statewide summer burn ban is a valuable tool to reduce the occurrence of preventable human-
caused wildfires providing a safeguard against hazards to life safety and property. This closure
will help protect citizens, fire fighters, emergency responders and private property.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No direct impact from the proposed action.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the Board of County Commissioners adopt the proposed resolution to
establish the 2011 summer burning ban to begin on July 1.
REVIEWED BY:
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Date
JEFFERSON COUNTY
STATE OF WASHINGTON
In the matter of declaring } RESOLUTION NO. ________
a Jefferson County burning ban on }
open debris burning other than }
recreational fires for the }
2011 fire season. }
WHEREAS, Jefferson County has the authority vested under Washington Administrative
Code 173-425-050 [3][a] [iii] entitled “Curtailments” to declare for Jefferson County a
fire danger burn ban in areas under its statutory jurisdiction, in addition to the statutory
authority vested to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and
the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA), and;
WHEREAS, Jefferson County has enacted the authority to establish a regulatory program
per Resolution No. 42-05 adopted on June 28, 2005, and;
WHEREAS, Jefferson County has enacted a County wide burning ban program per
Resolution No.43-05 adopted on July 5, 2005, and;
WHEREAS, the County Open Burning Regulatory Program is administered by the
Jefferson County Department of Community Development based upon the DNR fire
danger rating system, and;
WHEREAS, the Jefferson County Department of Community Development acting
through the Fire Code Official which is the Director of Community Development has
implemented a County wide burning ban during the summer fire seasons from 2005
through 2010, and;
WHEREAS, fire precaution and safeguards against hazards to life safety and property
from the dangerous conditions associated with fires; protects citizens, fire fighters,
emergency responders and private property, and;
WHEREAS, on March 1, 2011 the Commissioner of Public Lands ordered a burn ban on
DNR protected lands, and;
WHEREAS, the Commissioner of Public Lands call for a statewide summer burn ban is a
valuable tool to reduce the occurrence of preventable human-caused wildfires, and;
WHEREAS, The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) supports the DNR
statewide burning ban on DNR held properties, and;
WHEREAS, the Fire Chiefs for the Fire Protection Districts located within eastern
Jefferson County have been consulted with respect to this proposed ban and generally
concur with imposing this ban; and
WHEREAS, The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners hereby wishes to promote
the health, safety and welfare of its citizens under the statutory purposes of the
Washington Clean Air Act, and;
WHEREAS, the Jefferson County Fire Code Official supports imposition of this ban; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,
The Jefferson County Board of
Commissioners hereby declares a burning ban for eastern Jefferson County on debris
disposal open burning as defined in Chapter 173-425 WAC other than recreational fires
from July 1, 2011 through September 30, 2011, concurrent with the 2011 DNR burn ban
implementation plan. Exception: the burning ban may be lifted prior to September 30,
2011 based upon consultation between the local Fire Chiefs and the Fire Code Official in
consideration of field conditions.
SUBSEQUENT ALTERATIONS TO THE BAN: The DNR fire danger rating system
and any subsequent curtailments shall be applied to the western portions of Jefferson
County and to activities during the periods of time prior to July 1, 2011 and after
September 30, 2011 as warranted.
SEVERABILITY. The provisions of these regulations are severable. If any provision is
held invalid, the application of that provision to other circumstances and the remainder of
the regulation will not be affected.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This resolution becomes effective on the approval date when
enacted by the Board of County Commissioners. This resolution shall be considered null
and void and without effect on December 31, 2011. Resolutions No. 42-05 and 43-05
remain in effect subject to the provisions of this 2011 burning ban resolution.
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Approved this 20 day of June 2011.
SEAL: JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
John Austin, Chairman
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ATTEST: David Sullivan, Member
Phil Johnson, Member
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