Continued hot and dry weather has elevated fire danger to high levels, so the Kitsap County Fire Marshal announced July 10 that the county-wide ban on outdoor burning is being expanded to include recreational burning, effective immediately.

A Phase II outdoor burn ban prohibits all types of outdoor fires, regardless of whether or not the fire is in a designated fire place or campground. With limited exceptions, no open flames are permitted; the prohibition does not include gas or propane-fired appliances. It also doesn’t affect barbecues using charcoal briquettes.

“The spread of the half-acre fire in Hansville shows how dangerous conditions have become,” said Fire Marshal David Lynam.

The Hansville fire at Point No Point Park scorched nearly a half-acre of vegetation and driftwood. The suppression effort monopolized twenty firefighters for over twelve hours. Officials haven’t been able to determine an exact cause for the blaze, but say that there’s evidence suggesting that it was sparked by either an improperly-extinguished beach fire or fireworks. Both activities are always prohibited in Kitsap County’s parks.

Showers and cooler temperatures have been present recently, but officials don’t expect help from this minor shift in the weather.

“It’ll take much more than a few showers to improve conditions,” said Lynam. “It took a long time to create this situation; it will take a long period of cooler temperatures and a lot of rain to make it better.”

The prohibition on all outdoor burning was implemented July 10.

For more information contact your local fire department, or call the Kitsap County Fire Marshal at 360-337-5777.