WDFW lifts fire restrictions, including target shooting ban, on most Department-managed lands

OLYMPIA – With cooler temperatures and higher humidity reducing wildfire danger, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) lifted fire restrictions today, including the temporary ban on target shooting, on most Department-managed lands.

“People are welcome to build campfires and sight in their hunting firearms on lands managed by WDFW,” said Cynthia Wilkerson, Lands Division Manager for WDFW. “As always, we urge people to recreate responsibly and be cautious when doing activities that could spark a wildfire or cause other damage to habitat.”

Wilkerson noted that some restrictions will remain in place in south central Washington, including a campfire ban through Oct. 15 on all WDFW wildlife areas in Benton, Franklin, Yakima, and Kittitas counties, as these habitats remain more vulnerable to fire longer into the fall.

Similarly, a campfire ban is in place through Oct. 31 at the Columbia Basin Wildlife Area in Adams and Grant counties and at the Klickitat Wildlife Area in Klickitat County due to their drier, more sensitive nature.

The Oak Creek Wildlife Area Unit, which was impacted by the Schneider Springs fire, reopened in late September except for parcels within the U.S. Forest Service closure boundary.

WDFW institutes bans in hot summer months to reduce fire risk across the state on Department-managed lands and surrounding public lands and communities. These actions help protect habitat, wildlife, and human health.

For more information about fires and fire prevention on public lands, visit the Washington Department of Natural Resources' website (http://www.dnr.wa.gov) or the U.S. Forest Service website (http://www.fs.usda.gov). For local restrictions, contact your county.

Maps and detailed information about WDFW's 33 wildlife areas are available at https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/wdfw-lands.

WDFW manages more than a million acres of land and hundreds of water access areas throughout the state. By actively managing lands, restoring habitats, and preserving wild places, the Department serves as stewards for Washington’s natural places, protecting the state’s land and water for its human and wildlife populations.