KINGSTON — Firefighters spent three hours Wednesday digging into duff and dirt to snuff remaining hot spots after stopping the progress of a brush fire that is thought to have been sparked with a burn barrel.

The fire blackened as much as a half-acre northwest of Kingston.

North Kitsap Fire & Rescue firefighters were called to a private residence off of Old Hansville Road at 7:17 p.m. The first crews to arrive at the secluded site found a blaze moving rapidly through light brush into a ravine and timber. They were able to stop its progress quickly, but full extinguishment required more work, spokeswoman Michele Laboda reported.

The fire is thought to have started when material in a burn barrel wasn’t completely extinguished. “Many people are unaware that burn barrels have been illegal in Washington state due to air quality concerns for many years,” Laboda reported. “Today’s hot temperatures and recent dry conditions made it easier for an ember from the barrel to spread into a threatening brush fire. Controlled outdoor fires are the leading cause of dangerous wildland blazes. Though officials have not yet set a date for this summer’s local burn ban, they urge people to use caution with all ignition sources as conditions become drier and drier.”

There was no property loss and no injuries to firefighters or civilians. Crews were back in service by 10:30 p.m.