Camas-Washougal Fire Department lifts recreational burn ban

The Camas-Washougal Fire Department has lifted the recreational burn ban put in place for its coverage area several months ago.

The ban was lifted Thursday morning, the fire department said in a news release.

The rural Clark County fire department issued the ban in late July due to the region’s protracted heat wave. At the time, it was joining the rest of the county fire departments, which had already imposed restrictions on recreational fires.

It’s been an exceptionally hot summer in the area. Vancouver broke its all-time record for the most 90-degree days in one year last month. On Aug. 21, the city recorded a high of 94 degrees, making it the 28th day of 90 degrees or higher in 2018. The next day, the high was 90.

Things have cooled down. Forecasters say there are chances of rain through Sunday night. The week’s high temperatures are in the upper 60s, with nighttime lows dipping down to nearly 50 degrees.

And the colder weather is creating patchy fog at night and in the mornings.

The National Weather Service issued a short-term forecast early Thursday, warning residents that fog was developing across the Portland-Vancouver area.

“Some of this fog has been dense, locally reducing visibility to one quarter mile or less,” the forecast said.

The fog was expected to linger until an hour or two after sunrise before clearing.