Chapter 7.52
FIRE HAZARD AREAS*
Sections:
7.52.040 Activity restrictions.
7.52.060 Notification requirements—List of designated fire hazard areas and restrictions.
* Prior resolution history: Resos. 2015-90, 2015-81, 2015-72, 2015-62, 2015-54, 2014-75, 2014-48, 2013-44, 2011-57, 2010-95, 2009-106, 2009-78, 2008-137, 2004-78, 2004-68, 94-114, 94-100, 93-101 and 93-81.
7.52.010 Definitions.
The purpose of this section is to provide a primary source for the definition of terms used in this chapter. If a term is not specifically defined in this section, it shall have the meaning referenced in the most current edition of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary or, if not in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the International Fire Code adopted pursuant to Chapter 3.04, International Codes Adopted. Whenever the following words and phrases appear in this chapter, they shall be given the meanings attributed to them by this section. When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense shall include the future; the singular shall include the plural and the plural the singular; the word “shall” is always mandatory and the word “may” indicates a use of discretion in making a decision.
“Activity restriction” are actions implemented by the board of county commissioners as necessary to reduce the potential ignition of wildland fires in certain fire danger level areas.
“Campfire area” is an outdoor fire-burning area for recreational fires where natural wood materials other than rubbish can be burned. The campfire area must have all combustible material removed down to mineral soil and shall have a containment area of either rock, metal, concrete or any other noncombustible material and shall not be more than thirty-six inches in diameter and twenty-four inches high. All combustible material one and one-half feet surrounding the campfire area shall be removed. Fuel for the recreational residential campfire shall not extend above the edge of the campfire containment area.
“Chiminea” means a freestanding earthenware or metal fireplace that in its typical form has a bulbous body which is open in the front and is topped by an elongated chimney.
“Fireworks” shall have the same meaning as set forth in Section 7.44.030(2).
“Liquified petroleum gas” means a material which is composed predominantly of the following hydrocarbons or mixtures of them: propane, butane (normal butane or isobutane) and butylenes.
“Outdoor fire” means the combustion of material with no provisions for the control of such combustion or the control of the emissions from the combustion products.
“Outdoor fireplace” means a device made of rock, metal, concrete or any other noncombustible material and shall not be more than thirty-six inches in diameter and twenty-four inches high.
“Portable fireplaces/pits” means a portable, outdoor, solid-fuel-burning fireplace that may be constructed of steel, concrete, clay or other noncombustible material. A portable outdoor fireplace may be open in design, or may be equipped with a small hearth opening and a short chimney or chimney opening in the top.
“Travel restrictions” are limitations in the operation of motorized vehicles off road or within designated fire danger areas as determined by the board of county commissioners. (Res. 2025-47 (Exh. A), 6/9/25; Res. 2022-60 (Exh. A), 6/28/22; Res. 2019-67 (Exh. A) (part), 6/4/19: Res. 2018-40 (Exh. A) (part), 5/29/18).
7.52.020 Designation.
(1) The chairman of the fire advisory board shall notify the Chelan County sheriff, the director of the Chelan County department of public works, and the Chelan County fire marshal of the fire advisory board’s recommendation in writing to designate an area as a fire hazard area. Upon receiving such notification, the Chelan County sheriff shall present the recommendation of the fire advisory board to the board of Chelan County commissioners along with a resolution for their action.
(2) The board of Chelan County commissioners, upon the recommendation of the Chelan County sheriff or the Chelan County fire marshal, may officially determine and publicly announce when any area shall be designated as a fire hazard area, and may further determine and publicly announce when such designation may be withdrawn. The board of Chelan County commissioners may make this determination, taking into account the need to protect public and private lands from the danger of fire during times of the year when high fire danger is present.
(3) For purposes of designation of fire hazard areas, Chelan County shall be divided into two geographical zones based on the Central and Northeast Washington Interagency Fire Danger Operating Plan:
(A) Valley Zone shall be composed of those unincorporated lands and area within the legal boundaries of Chelan County Fire Districts 1, 5, 6, 7 and 8.
(B) Chelan Mountain Zone shall be composed of those unincorporated lands and area within the legal boundaries of Chelan County Fire Districts 3, 9 (Lake Wenatchee Fire and Rescue) and 10.
The following describes in detail the boundary between the Chelan Mountain and Valley fire danger rating areas in Chelan County from south to north:
From the intersection of Squilchuck, Stemilt, and Naneum hydrologic divides on the Chelan County line; N on Squilchuck-Stemilt divide to the Chelan FPD 1 boundary; W and N along the western edge of the Chelan FPD 1 boundary briefly following the Wenatchee Fire and Rescue FPD to the Number 2-Nahahum divide; W on Number 2-Nahahum divide to intersection with Mission divide; N on Mission-Nahahum divide to Chelan County FPD 6 boundary; follow the Chelan County FPD 6 boundary in a clockwise direction to the intersection with Swakane divide; W on Swakane-Nahahum divide to intersection with Ollala divide; N on Swakane-Ollala divide to intersection with Eagle divide; N on Swakane-Eagle divide to Roaring divide; E on Swakane-Roaring to Mills divide; N on Roaring-Mills divide to Chelan County FPD 8 boundary; follow the Chelan County FPD 8 boundary in a clockwise direction to the Okanogan Wenatchee NF boundary in T.26N. R.20E. S.8 SW; E along NF boundary to Potato-Mud divide; N on Potato-Mud divide to First Creek divide; E on Mud-First divide to intersection with Johnson divide; E on First-Johnson divide to Chelan County FPD 7; follow the Chelan County FPD 7 boundary in a clockwise direction to the intersection with Chelan County FPD 5; follow the Chelan County FPD 5 boundary in a clockwise direction to the intersection with Chelan County FPD 7; follow the Chelan County FPD 7 boundary in a N and then E to Okanogan County.
(4) Any modification, addition, or deletion of these designations or provisions shall be by resolution of the board of Chelan County commissioners, upon written recommendation of the chairman of the fire advisory board following the same procedures as outlined for the initial designation. (Res. 2025-47 (Exh. A), 6/9/25; Res. 2022-60 (Exh. A), 6/28/22; Res. 2019-67 (Exh. A) (part), 6/4/19: Res. 2018-42, 6/4/18; Res. 2018-40 (Exh. A) (part), 5/29/18: Res. 2016-49 (Exh. A) (part), 5/31/16. Formerly 7.52.010).
7.52.030 Travel restrictions.
(1) Pursuant to the designation provisions of Section 7.52.020, travel restrictions shall be enforced by the Chelan County sheriff or the Chelan County fire marshal. Travel restrictions are listed below; however, the Chelan County fire marshal reserves the right to make any changes including but not limited to additional restrictions and road closures when high fire danger is present.
(A) Beginning June 1st, unless modified at the discretion of the BOCC depending on hazard conditions in the Valley Zone (initial restrictions in the Chelan Mountain Zone to be established as seasonal drying necessitates or by July 1st, whichever comes first):
(i) No operation of any motor vehicles off the county roadway, except to access open public lands.
(ii) County roads with travel restrictions shall be identified in the list of designated fire hazard areas set forth in Section 7.52.060. A list of area road designations shall be kept in the office of the Chelan County department of public works. (Res. 2025-47 (Exh. A), 6/9/25; Res. 2022-60 (Exh. A), 6/28/22; Res. 2019-67 (Exh. A) (part), 6/4/19: Res. 2018-42, 6/4/18; Res. 2018-40 (Exh. A) (part), 5/29/18: Res. 2016-49 (Exh. A) (part), 5/31/16. Formerly 7.52.015).
7.52.040 Activity restrictions.
(1) Activity restrictions, pursuant to the designation provisions of Section 7.52.020, shall be enforced by the Chelan County sheriff or the Chelan County fire marshal, as conditions warrant, throughout those unincorporated areas of Chelan County designated as a fire hazard area.
(A) Beginning June 1st, unless modified at the discretion of the BOCC depending on hazard conditions in the Valley Zone (initial activity restrictions in Chelan Mountain Zone to be established as fire danger rating increases or by July 1st, whichever comes first).
(i) Fireworks are illegal in all unincorporated Chelan County. Use, display, and discharge of all fireworks is prohibited, except by the authority of a written permit issued by the Fire Marshal’s Office to licensed pyrotechnic companies.
(ii) The use of exploding targets and incendiary ammunition is prohibited.
(iii) All land clearing and burning of yard debris is prohibited.
(iv) Restricted Outdoor Fires. No person shall build, ignite, or maintain any outdoor fire of any kind or character.
Exception: recreational campfires burning in a designated campfire area installed in accordance with the Chelan County fire advisory board guidelines.
(v) Portable fireplaces/pits/chimineas, gas camp stoves and lanterns are approved providing they are placed on noncombustible material.
(B) Beginning July 1st, unless modified at the discretion of the BOCC depending on hazard conditions in the Mountain and Valley Zone.
(i) Restricted Outdoor Fires. No person shall build, ignite, or maintain any outdoor fire of any kind or character.
(ii) All recreational campfires are prohibited.
(iii) Use of charcoal briquettes is prohibited.
(iv) No target shooting outside of gun ranges. Hunting permitted in open areas.
The Chelan County fire marshal reserves the right to add additional restrictions or lessen restrictions depending on the fire danger rating.
(2) Notice of activity restrictions shall be posted as set forth in Section 7.52.070. Activity restrictions will remain so until October 1st, unless revised in accordance with Section 7.52.020. (Res. 2025-47 (Exh. A), 6/9/25; Res. 2022-60 (Exh. A), 6/28/22; Res. 2019-67 (Exh. A) (part), 6/4/19: Res. 2018-42, 6/4/18; Res. 2018-40 (Exh. A) (part), 5/29/18: Res. 2016-49 (Exh. A) (part), 5/31/16. Formerly 7.52.020).
7.52.050 Fire advisory board.
(1) Fire Advisory Board. There is established a fire advisory board which shall consist, at a minimum, of representation from the U.S. Forest Service, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Chelan County fire marshal, Chelan County sheriff, Chelan County emergency management, and representation from the responsible land management and fire protection agencies for the respective fire hazard areas, including the Chelan County fire districts and Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife.
(2) The fire advisory board shall designate a chairman and alternate of such board and may convene board meetings as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
(3) The fire advisory board shall develop guidelines to utilize in determining recommendations to the board of Chelan County commissioners, for the designation of fire hazard areas. (Res. 2025-47 (Exh. A), 6/9/25; Res. 2022-60 (Exh. A), 6/28/22; Res. 2019-67 (Exh. A) (part), 6/4/19: Res. 2018-40 (Exh. A) (part), 5/29/18: Res. 2016-49 (Exh. A) (part), 5/31/16. Formerly 7.52.030).
7.52.060 Notification requirements—List of designated fire hazard areas and restrictions.
(1) Following designation as set forth in Section 7.52.020, the fire advisory board shall disseminate such designation and application information to:
(A) Local media;
(B) Chelan County sheriff;
(C) Chelan County department of public works;
(D) Chelan County fire marshal;
(E) Chelan County emergency management;
(F) U.S. Forest Service;
(G) Washington State Department of Natural Resources;
(H) Respective Chelan County fire districts;
(I) Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife;
(J) Chelan-Douglas Utility Council;
(K) Chelan County public information office.
(2) A list of those areas designated as a fire hazard area and accompanying restrictions shall be kept in the county engineer’s office and displayed on the Chelan County department of public works website. Copies of the list shall be made available to the public in the offices of the board of Chelan County commissioners and the Chelan County sheriff. (Res. 2025-47 (Exh. A), 6/9/25; Res. 2022-60 (Exh. A), 6/28/22; Res. 2019-67 (Exh. A) (part), 6/4/19: Res. 2018-40 (Exh. A) (part), 5/29/18: Res. 2016-49 (Exh. A) (part), 5/31/16. Formerly 7.52.040).
7.52.070 Posting of notices.
The board of Chelan County commissioners shall designate the Chelan County department of public works and other departments as necessary to post notices of and defining the restrictions and/or closures with a prominent sign at the point or points of restriction or closure on county roads. The Chelan County department of public works will also be tasked with the removal of such signs when all restrictions are removed by resolution. (Res. 2025-47 (Exh. A), 6/9/25; Res. 2022-60 (Exh. A), 6/28/22; Res. 2019-67 (Exh. A) (part), 6/4/19: Res. 2018-40 (Exh. A) (part), 5/29/18: Res. 2016-49 (Exh. A) (part), 5/31/16. Formerly 7.52.050).
7.52.080 Violation—Penalty.
(1) Anyone violating the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars and/or ninety days in jail.
(2) In addition to the criminal penalties which may be imposed pursuant to this chapter, the expenses of responding to and/or fighting any fires as a result of violations of this chapter are a charge against the person whose violation of this chapter caused the fire. Expenses for suppressing and damages caused by such fire shall constitute a debt of such person and are collectable by Chelan County in the same manner as the case of an obligation under contract, express or implied.
(3) The court may also impose such damages as restitution in any criminal prosecution brought pursuant to this provision. (Res. 2025-47 (Exh. A), 6/9/25; Res. 2022-60 (Exh. A), 6/28/22; Res. 2019-67 (Exh. A) (part), 6/4/19: Res. 2018-40 (Exh. A) (part), 5/29/18: Res. 2016-49 (Exh. A) (part), 5/31/16. Formerly 7.52.060).