The Kitsap County Fire Marshal says outdoor burning remains permissible in Kitsap County, under the usual rules, despite recent notices in the media including Kitsap in a regional outdoor burn ban.

“With the all the rain we had in June and July, soil moisture levels remain relatively safe for typical outdoor burns,” wrote Poulsbo Fire spokeswoman Jody Matson. “As the weather heats up and the moisture level drops, we will keep you posted of any burn ban announcements by the Kitsap County Fire Marshal.”

The State of Washington recently announced that all outdoor fires (except “recreational” fires in a designated fire pit, comprised of dry seasoned wood or charcoal and less than 3 feet in diameter) will be banned on Department of Natural Resources lands across Washington State through Sept. 30.

Although some news sources announced a burn ban for Kitsap County, the Kitsap County Fire Marshal confirmed that there will be no local outdoor burning ban until fire danger warrants it.

In the meantime, local fire departments remind residents that all of the regular rules apply.

Matson added that if smoke is spotted from the road, residents should call and report the smoke to be on the safe side. “

“The most helpful thing for us to know when the call is reported is if it’s a “smoke investigation” rather than a “confirmed brush fire,” [as in] if the person does not actually see brush on fire,” Matson wrote. “That gives us an idea as to how many units may be appropriate to deploy. If the driver can take the time to drive by to investigate what appears to be burning (without stopping on the highway) and give an accurate location, that is also helpful.

“We do get a lot of false alarm calls and often times it’s someone just burning yard waste but sometimes it’s an illegal burn. In that case, it was helpful because it gives us an opportunity to educate the resident about outdoor burning regulations.”

Permits are required for all fires, except those defined as “recreational.” Permits are available, free of charge, at any Kitsap County staffed fire station. For more information on burn bans in ourcounty, check out Kitsap County’s burn ban link: www.kitsapgov.com/dcd/fire/docs/fm-burnban.htm or check with your local fire department.

Poulsbo Fire Department at (360) 779-3997 and North Kitsap Fire & Rescue at (360) 297-4888.