Chelan County moving to Stage 2 fire restrictions on Friday, August 12

Stage 2 fire restrictions include:

• Additional educational signage will be placed at a variety of county roads, alerting people to activity and travel fire restrictions. The signage, or barricades, do not prevent people from using the roadway.
• People are prohibited from having campfires at their residences. People can continue to use commercially made barbecues, both gas and charcoal briquettes.
• Target shooting outside of gun ranges is prohibited. Hunting is still permitted in areas that are open.

Both the Valley and Mountain zones of Chelan County will be at an “extreme” fire hazard rating, which applies to the current conditions.

The local Fire Advisory Board, which consists of area fire chiefs and partner agencies, meets weekly during the summer to discuss whether fire hazard levels and stages should be changed. The board then makes a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners. If commissioners are not in session, the Chelan County fire marshal has the authority to temporarily designate a fire hazard area and impose travel and activity restrictions. County commissioners then may approve the restrictions by resolution at their next regular meeting, which is Monday.

For more information, go to the Chelan County website at www.co.chelan.wa.us.