OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has lifted campfire restrictions on most department-managed lands in eastern Washington, where cooler temperatures and fall rains have reduced fire danger.

Clay Sprague, WDFW land manager, said the department's action is consistent with changes in fire rules approved recently by the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which provides fire protection for many state wildlife areas.

"A cool, damp start to autumn resulted in the lifting of fire restrictions in eastern Washington, but we still urge campers and others heading outdoors to be extremely cautious," Sprague said.

Sprague emphasized, however, that some localized restrictions will remain in place, including a campfire ban from Apr. 15 to Oct. 15 at all WDFW wildlife areas in Benton, Franklin, Yakima, and Kittitas counties.

Similarly, a campfire ban is in place at the Columbia Basin Wildlife Area in Grant and Adams counties from May 15 to Oct. 31. Maps and comprehensive information about WDFW's wildlife areas can be found at http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/wildlife_areas/ .

WDFW previously eased fire restrictions on lands east of the Cascades on Sept. 11, but kept the ban on campfires in place on all agency-managed lands.

All fire restrictions on WDFW lands in western Washington were lifted on Aug. 15, when wetter, cooler weather reduced fire danger.

Any further updates will be posted on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/ . For more information on fire danger in Washington, visit the DNR website at http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Pages/default.aspx .