26642 Miller Bay Road NE
Kingston, Washington 98346 (360)297-3619
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AREA STILL TINDER-DRY; BRUSH FIRE SCORCHES HILLSIDE (MILLER BAY, North Kitsap County) -- Despite sporadic rainfall and cooling temperatures over the last couple of days, the local outdoor burning ban remains in effect as conditions continue to be dangerously dry -- as evidenced by today's fast-moving brush fire that scorched a 50' x 50' area on a hillside here today.North Kitsap Fire & Rescue crews were called to the scene along Miller Bay Road at around 1:30pm after passersby reported fire coming from behind a residence. Crews from the district's Suquamish station were first to arrive, reported flames 15 - 20' into the air and called for additional resources to deal with the blaze that was rapidly moving up a hill through blackberry bushes and alders. They were quickly able to stop the fire's progress but spent several hours and thousands of gallons of water in an effort to ensure complete extinguishment of all hot spots. The blaze apparently started in an area about 15 feet from a home. Although crews weren't able to determine the exact cause of the fire, items found at the site suggest that the area was being used to burn rubbish -- and firefighters believe that an incompletely-extinguished burn pile may have been the culprit. Crews were unable to locate the home's occupants. Fire officials point out that all outdoor burning remains banned in Kitsap County. The current ban was imposed on July 22nd. Today's brush fire -- which, had winds come up, could easily have threatened homes -- underscores officials' concern about the area's high fire danger. "It's still very dry out there," says NKF&R Spokeswoman Michèle Laboda, "It'll take significant and sustained rainfall to improve conditions." The Kitsap County Fire Chiefs' Association (KCFCA), the organization that initiates fire danger burn bans, plans to discuss the issue at a meeting later this week. KCFCA President and Poulsbo Fire Chief Jim Shields adds, "We're watching the situation closely, and will lift the ban when it's clearly safe to do so." Until that time, no outdoor burning -- except cooking fires in contained barbecue units -- is permitted. |
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