News Release

Parkwide fire ban lifted at Mount Rainier National Park, September 21, 2023

Date: September 21, 2023
Contact: Mount Rainier Press Information Line, 360-569-6510

Mount Rainier National Park has lifted the parkwide fire ban after consultation with federal fire management officials. Campfires will be permitted at the park’s three campgrounds, including the Ohanapecosh Campground, the Cougar Rock Campground, and the White River Campground.  

The White River Campground is expected to close for the season on Monday, September 25, 2023.  Ohanapecosh Campground and Cougar Rock Campground are expected to close for the  season on Sunday, October 8, 2023.  

Developed campground guidelines for fires can be found here. Fires must be fully contained within the closed grate. Never burn trash and do not leave fires unattended. Branches, twigs, and cones nourish the forest as they decompose; do not collect these materials to create a fire. To protect Mount Rainier National Park’s forests, please “Buy It Where You Burn It” – firewood brought in from other areas may contain invasive insect species that pose a serious threat to park habitats. To protect the park, please consider the following: 

• Buy firewood near where it will burn: that means the wood was cut within 50 miles of where the campfire will be. 
• Wood that looks clean and healthy can still have tiny insect eggs, or microscopic fungi spores that could start a new and deadly infestation. Always leave it at home, even if the firewood appears safe. 
• Aged or seasoned wood is still not safe. Just because the wood is dry doesn't mean that invasive insects are not living there. 
• Tell friends not to bring wood with them. Everyone has a role to play in protecting native forests. 

Fires are never permitted on trails or in the park’s backcountry. For more information on wilderness camping, consult the park’s wilderness guidelines. Discharging, or using any kind of fireworks, tracer ammunition or other incendiary devices in any location on federal lands is always prohibited. 

The fire ban was put into place on August 18, 2023, to reduce the risk of human-caused wildland fire during a period of hot, dry conditions and high fire danger. 

More information about visiting the park can be found at the Mount Rainier National Park website.  Visit the park’s road status page for the latest information on road construction projects.  

www.nps.gov 

More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 425 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.