Campfire Restrictions in Effect on National Forest Lands in Okanogan County

Release Date: Aug 19, 2016

Okanogan, WA — Campfire restrictions went into effect on National Forest lands in Okanogan County on Friday, August 19.  Campfires are allowed only in designated campgrounds and congressionally-designated Wilderness Areas.  In all other areas, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, including a fire made from briquettes, will be prohibited with certain exceptions. These restrictions are the result of increasing fire danger in national forest areas within the county.

Certain sites are exempt, such as summer homes under permit. Please visit or call the appropriate ranger station to obtain information on specific campground information and restrictions.

See Campfire Restrictions page for details.

Persons using or maintaining pressurized liquid gas stoves or an enclosed solid fuel fire using a wick are also exempt from this campfire restriction.

Fire managers on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest remind hikers, campers and recreationists to be extremely careful with any use of fire in the outdoors this summer.  Humans remains the leading cause of wildfires and escaped campfires top that list on the Okanogan-Wenatchee NF. 

“Most often, the issue is an unattended campfire”, said Fire Management Officer Matt Ellis.  “Stepping away from the fire for even a few minutes can be viewed as negligence.  The other common mistake is leaving before a campfire is completely extinguished.  The fire needs to be drowned and the ashes need to be cool.”

Contact these Okanogan-Wenatchee NF offices for more information:  Methow Valley Ranger District, 509-996-4000; Omak Visitor Center, 509-486-5145; and Tonasket Ranger District 509-486-2186.