As a general safety precaution, TMSPA Policy prohibits fires or the use of any cooking source that creates hot coals or ashes such as barbecues with charcoal briquettes due the danger of a fire on the site.
That policy is now backed up with the following announcement from the US Forest Service:
Due to high temperatures and increasing fire danger, effective on Friday, July 3, 2009, campfires are prohibited on National Forest lands within Chelan County (Chelan, Entiat and Wenatchee River Ranger Districts). A campfire restriction means that wood and charcoal fires are allowed only in designated campgrounds with fire rings, some classified Wilderness areas and specially designated sites. Pressurized liquid gas stoves are still allowed, but briquette fires are not.
As the hot, dry weather continues in Eastern Washington as forecast, it is reasonable to predict that the fire ban will be expanded to other regions such as Kititas County as well. So please, for the safety of your fellow stargazers, make sure that you use a propane or white-gas cookstove as your only cooking heat source.
More information on TMSPA Rules can be found on the Rules & Regs Page.