A campfire ban will take effect Saturday for Olympic National Park and the Olympic National Forest in Washington state due to rising temperatures and increasingly dry conditions.

All backcountry and dispersed area campfires, charcoal grills, and other equipment that creates ash will not be allowed. Gas or propane camp stoves with a shut-off valve or lever that extinguishes the flame immediately are permitted in these areas. These stoves should be operated far from flammable vegetation and forest litter. Extreme caution is urged when using any open flame.

“Abnormally dry and drought-like conditions have lingered over portions of the peninsula for the past several years. This is leading to live vegetation being in a state of stress and dead vegetation is quick to react to localized weather patterns, like the recent heat dome,” said Jeff Bortner, the fire management officer for Olympic Interagency Fire Management. “These changes line up to quick changes in fire danger. Places like the Quinault, Hoh, and coastal beaches are especially sensitive to prolonged dry periods and drought as they have not evolved to survive in a moisture deficit.”