‘High temperatures’ bring fire bans to Washington’s national parks. Can I still cook?
If you’re packing up to head to one of Washington state’s national parks this summer, you might want to hold those marshmallows. Washington’s national parks announced on Thursday and Friday that parkwide fire bans will soon take effect.
“Beginning Friday, June 26, 2026, until lifted, Mount Rainier National Park will implement a parkwide fire ban,” a press release sent to The News Tribune stated. “All campfires and the ignition of wood, briquettes, or any fuel in fire pits, fire pans, and barbecue grills will be prohibited. This ban is in place to reduce the risk of human-caused wildland fire.”
It’s still OK to use petroleum canister-fueled camping equipment like Jetboils and Coleman camping stoves at Mount Rainier NP, as long as they can be turned off.
At the moment, the ban only affects Cougar Rock Campground, as it is the only campground open. The park said it expects White River Campground to “open soon,” and the ban will apply there as well.
Ohanepecosh Campground is closed for construction in 2026.
On Thursday, North Cascades National Park announced a similar ban will take effect next week.
“Effective Monday, June 29, campfires or the ignition of wood, briquettes, or any fuel in fire pits, fire pans, and barbecue grills are banned in all portions of North Cascades National Park Service Complex, which includes North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake National Recreation Area, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area,” the news release stated. “This ban includes all National Park Service lands and campgrounds along State Route 20 as well as Hozomeen and the entire Stehekin Valley. This applies to anything that produces ash, including charcoal grills. Propane fire pits are not allowed during the ban.”
Like Rainier NP, gas and propane stoves and lanterns are still permitted. The lack of spring rains and warmer weather is to blame for the new restrictions.
On Friday, Olympic National Park followed suit.
“Due to rising temperatures and seasonally dry conditions,” Olympic National Park said in a press release to The News Tribune, “Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park have implemented campfire restrictions effective today, June 26, 2026. Under these restrictions, campfires will be allowed only in established fire rings located in designated developed campgrounds and recreation sites.”
Unit Fire Chief Jeff Bortner said in the statement that “abnormally dry and drought-like conditions” that have existed for several years are to blame.
Like Mount Rainier and North Cascades, propane camp stoves and Jetboil-like devices that can be turned off are still permissible.
The parks ask visitors to dial 911 or notify a ranger if they observe smoke or flames inside a park this summer.
This story has been updated to include the fire bans at Olympic and North Cascades national parks.
This story was originally published June 25, 2026 at 12:54 PM with the headline "‘High temperatures’ bring fire bans to Washington’s national parks. Can I still cook?."
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