BREMERTON — Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue and Bremerton Fire Department responded to a brush fire in the Illahee Preserve Sept. 11.

The fire burned an acre. By 5:15 p.m., the fire was “contained and under control,” CKF&R spokeswoman Ileana LiMarzi reported.

The cause of fire was not determined early Sept. 12, LiMarzi said. The department contacted the Kitsap County Fire Marshal, though, because there were “signs of an encampment near the start of the fire.”

Central Kitsap and Brmeerton firefighters remained at Illahee Preserve after the fire was under control to wait for a professional tree faller and heavy excavator. According to LiMarzi, eight to 10 dead trees needed to be removed so firefighters could check for and extinguish hot spots.

“Crews were out at the preserve until about 2 a.m.,” LiMarzi said.

LiMarzi said crews will continue to check Illahee Preserve throughout the day Sept. 12 to ensure everything is still under control.

Burn ban still in effect

Kitsap County is currently under a Phase 2 burn ban, which became effective 8 a.m. Sept. 6.

During a Phase 2 ban, all burning permits are suspended and all forms of outdoor burning are prohibited, including campires, bonfires or similar recreational burning. Use of charcoal briquettes in approved barbecues are still allowed.

“The ban is necessary due to the ongoing dry and unseasonably warm conditions,” Kitsap County Fire Marshal David Lynam said in a press release. “Resources across the state are stretched thin due to several large fires still out of control, and there is precious little left to assist Kitsap should something get going in our neighborhood.”

— Michelle Beahm is online editor for Kitsap News Group. She can be reached at mbeahm@soundpublishing.com.

The fire at Illahee Preserve in Bremerton grew to about an acre in size before the Central Kitasp Fire & Rescue and Bremerton Fire Department crews were able to contain and control it. Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue/Courtesy