The Kitsap County Fire Marshal said earlier this week that a phase-one outdoor burning ban is in effect as of June 28.

All outdoor burning will be prohibited with the exception of recreational fires in “approved devices and locations,” the fire marshal’s office stated in a news release issued June 26.

No additional permits will be issued in unincorporated areas of Kitsap County and all active burning permits will be suspended until further notice. The ban is in place because of drier than normal conditions for this time of year and the potential for fires to spread once ignited.

“June is always a dry month but this year it is particularly dry, with the larger debris in the rural areas reaching moisture content the same as kiln-dried lumber,” Fire Marshal David Lynam said.

Kitsap County is projected to have 1.5 inches of rainfall in June, with the exact amount depending on location, according to The National Weather Service. The official rain measure for June indicates less than 10 percent of the usual amount for this time of year, with temperatures moderately higher.

For more information, contact the Fire Marshal’s Office at 360-337-5777 or your local fire department.