Burn ban fizzles

The countywide outdoor burn ban was lifted by officials with the Kitsap County Fire Chiefs and Kitsap County Fire Marshal’s Office last week.

The weather is expected to be much cooler and wetter, so the risk of fire spread has lowered, said Kitsap County Fire Chiefs Association President Ken Burdette.

However, burning will still be prohibited in certain areas throughout the county.

For the North End, burning is banned within the city of Poulsbo and Urban Growth Areas.

For those who are outside the city and its Urban Growth Area limits, any type of burning requires a permit, said PFD public information officer Michele Jennings.

There are two types of permits — a residential permit for fires less than 10 feet in diameter and a land clearing permit for fires larger than 10 feet in diameter.

Both permits are $20 and can be purchased at the station’s headquarters.

If residents choose to burn, Jennings strongly encourages them to remain with the fire until it is completely extinguished, keep water nearby and not to burn within 50 feet of any structure.

For residents in the North Kitsap Fire & Rescue district, there is no burning within the Kingston UGA, except for recreational fires, said NKF&R public information officer Michele Laboda. NKF&R also requires permits for all burns, which are free of charge and are available at the district’s four staffed stations.

There are permits for a recreation burn (3 feet in diameter or smaller and only with charcoal or seasoned dry wood), a residential burn (10 feet or smaller) and a land clearing burn (10 feet or larger).

For more information about the burn bans, call PFD at (360) 779-3997 or NKF&R at (360) 297-3916 or visit www.poulsbofire.org or www.nkfr.org. The burn ban hotline for the North End is (360) 297-4888.

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