Burn ban lifted on West Side

OLYMPIA – Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire has modified a statewide ban on outdoor burning in light of storms forecast to bring significant rain.

The governor is lifting the ban for Western Washington counties, effective at 8 a.m. today.

For all counties east of the Cascade Mountains, the outdoor burn ban will remain in effect through midnight Monday.

Gregoire called the rain that started Friday “a welcome change” for a state that has seen major wildfires. Still, she urged residents to continue to “take extra caution to prevent additional human-caused fires.”

The governor made her decision after consulting with state Department of Natural Resources Director Peter Goldmark and Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste.