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JEFFERSON COUNTY
STATE OF WASHINGTON
22-13
In the matter of declaring } RESOLUTION NO.
a Jefferson County burning ban on }
open debris burning other than }
recreational fires for the }
2013 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
or Jefferson County Fire Districts, 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 2012, 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 call by the Fire Chiefs for the Fire Protection Districts located within eastern
Jefferson County for aCounty-wide 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, 2013 through
September 30, 2013, concurrent with the burn ban implementation plans of Jefferson County
Fires Districts. Exception: the burning ban may be lifted prior to September 30, 2013 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, 2013 and after September 30, 2013 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, 2013. Resolutions No. 42-OS and 43-OS remain in effect subject
to the provisions of this 2013 burning ban resolution.
Approved this 24nd day of June, 2013.
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JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
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Jo Austin, Chairman
David Sullivan, Member
Phil Johnson, ember
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
FROM: Carl Smith, Director of Community Development L
DATE: June 24, 2013
RE: Burning Ban for the 2013 fire season on open debris burning; not including
recreational fires.
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
Staff presents for Board of County Commissioners consideration, a resolution to implement a
burning ban for east Jefferson County during the 2013 fire season.
ANALYSIS:
In 2005, Jefferson County established aCounty-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 17, a DNR representative confirmed that the agency has not yet
established a burning ban on DNR managed forest lands in Jefferson County for the 2013 fire
season. As of the time of this writing, the DNR fire rating for Jefferson County is "low"; whereas
a rating of "moderate" is required for DNR to set a burning ban.
However, by email and telephone communication with the Assistant Fire Chief of East Jefferson
Fire Rescue, the fire chiefs of the eastern Jefferson County Fire Districts have determined a 2013
burn ban is advisable and intend to set a bum ban on or about July 1.
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
Staff recommends the Board of County Commissioners adopt the proposed resolution to
establish the 2013 summer burning ban to begin on July 1 and end on September 30, 2013.
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