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HomeMy WebLinkAbout044 12 ~t~i ~ ,- JEFFERSON COUNTY STATE OF WASHINGTON In the matter of declaring a Jefferson County burning ban on open debris burning other than recreational fires for the 2012 fire season. } } } } } RESOLUTION NO. 44-12 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 2011, 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, 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 Resolution No. 44-12 re: 2012 Burn Ban Page: 2 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, 2012 through September 30, 2012, concurrent with the 2012 DNR burn ban implementation plan. Exception: the burning ban may be lifted prior to September 30, 2012 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, 2012 and after September 30, 2012 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, 2012. Resolutions No. 42-05 and 43-05 remain in effect subject to the provisions oftms 2012 burning ban resolution. Approved this 2nd day of July, 2012. ..J-, SEAL'. ?', '., , . l . .J . .~ (~ ~ - _ - . I " : \~ ~~iJ!~)I": ~. ~ . \;\(.'::iii.~./ . ':\ , '~-'~.' " . ~ -t; -:J . . . ".I4~~ ..... Arr'EST;;,. . lZ~'~V\~ Raina Randall Deputy Clerk of the Board JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST TO: Board of County Commissioners FROM: Carl Smith, Director of Community Development ~ DATE: June 28, 2012 RE: Burning Ban for the 2012 fire season on open debris burning; not including recreational fires. STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Staff presents for Board of County Commissioners (BoCe) consideration, a resolution to implement a burning ban for east Jefferson County during the 2012 fire season. This resolution is consistent with the policy of the State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and East Jefferson Fire and Rescue, to institute a burning ban whenever the fire danger rating is moderate or high, or between the dates of July 1 through September 30 of each year. ANALYSIS: In 2005, Jefferson County established a County-wide burning ban program based upon the DNR fire danger rating system. Since establishment of this program, the County has issued a burning ban when the DNR issues a moderate or high level for fire danger. Through telephone contact with the DNR on June 28,2012, a DNR representative confirmed the agency's intention to issue the burning ban on DNR managed forest lands effective July I, through September 30, 1012. A summer burn ban is a valuable tool for reducing the occurrence of preventable human-caused wildfires, providing a safeguard against hazards to life safety and property. This burning ban will help protect citizens, fire fighters, emergency responders and private property. The burning ban does not include "recreational fires", defined as a fire not more than three feet in height and three feet in width. FISCAL IMPACT: No direct impact from the proposed action RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the Board of County Commissioners adopt the proposed resolution to establish the 2012 summer burning ban to begin on July 2, 2012. REVIEWED BY: /i ./ /' /~. t 4-8'";/2- ty Administrator Date