Kitsap News Sources

Citing the rising danger of a forest fire, the trio of burn officials have declared a county-wide burn ban as of 8 a.m. Thursday. Citing the rising potential for a wildfire, the Kitsap County Fire Chiefs’ Association, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the Kitsap County Fire Marshal’s Office have imposed a Phase I outdoor burn ban.

Burn permits will be temporarily suspended, and no outdoor burning will be allowed, with the exception of cooking fires in contained barbecue pits and recreational fires. Recreational fires have to be in a designated fire pit; can be no larger that three feet in diameter; must burn only seasoned firewood or charcoal briquettes; must be at least 25 feet away from buildings, fences or anything that might burn; and must be attended by an alert adult with immediate access to a shovel and water source, according to a press release from North Kitsap Fire & Rescue.

“The potential for dangerous fire spread is increasing as vegetation moisture content is decreasing due to a prolonged spell of warm and dry weather. More of the same is forecast for the coming week,” the release states. Local fire districts are seeing a rise in the number of brush fires, while a majority of the states’ fire fighting resources are fighting wildfires in Eastern Washington.

The ban will be in effect until the area receives significant rainfall, which will decrease the danger of wildfire.

For more information, call North Kitsap Fire & Rescue at (360) 297-4888, Poulsbo Fire Department at (360) 779-3997, or (800) 323-BURN.