EPHRATA - The Grant County Board of Commissioners has imposed a temporary ban on outdoor burning as of July 16 because of the high heat that has settled in the county.

The ban prohibits all outdoor burning until further notice and will be lifted once conditions improve. Meanwhile, if citizens are caught burning, they could face fines and other consequences, Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones said.

With the hot, dry, arid conditions, and a heavy load of dry grass and sage brush throughout the county, officials are anticipating wildfires to ignite. The risks include night-time fires which may be ignited by summertime lightning storms.

The Grant County Fire Marshal urges citizens to follow these safety tips.

• Take yard debris to the county landfill or recycling centers.
• Use caution when mowing or working with other equipment that could spark.
• If you spot a fire, large column of smoke, or suspicious activity, call 9-1-1.

The county burn ban does not change the burn ban already imposed on all cities in Grant County. Since 2007, burning bans have been imposed by the Washington Department of Ecology for all cities and within Urban Growth Areas.

When the countywide burn ban is lifted, the Ecology burn bans for all cities will still be in place.

The county ban does not affect fires at campgrounds in fire pits or agricultural burning, such as the burning of field crop residue and orchard tear out residue, provided the burning is permitted and conducted in accordance with the Washington Department of Ecology.

For more information on agro burning, contact the Department of Ecology at 509-329-3400.