DNR Issues Burn Ban for Eastern Washington

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The state Department of Natural Resources has issued a burn ban on DNR-protected lands in Eastern Washington, effective Saturday.

The ban applies to all outdoor burning on state forests, state parks and forestlands under DNR fire protection east of the crest of the Cascade Range.

It does not include federally-owned lands.

The last two wildfire seasons have been the state's worst ever. Last year more than a million acres burned across the state, the single worst wildfire year in Washington history.

So far this year, DNR says there have been 234 wildfire starts, 202 of them caused by humans.

The DNR burn ban is scheduled to remain in effect through Sept. 30. It may be extended or shortened based on fire weather.