Fire crews battle Kingston brush fire
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, August 28, 2019
An illegal outdoor fire in Kingston turned into an uncontrolled blaze around 11 a.m. Tuesday in the 22000 block of Jefferson Point Road.
A small shed and its contents were destroyed along with about 2,500 square feet of vegetation after a controlled fire escaped, igniting grasses, bushes and small trees. No injuries were reported as a result of the fire.
After receiving a call from neighbors reporting the blaze, crews from North Kitsap Fire & Rescue arrived on scene to discover the shed was fully-involved, with flames spreading rapidly up a nearby embankment. With the help of tender trucks providing water to firefighters, crews were able to keep the flames from spreading to nearby homes despite the steep terrain along the embankment. Some eleven fire personnel spent about 2 1/2 hours working to get the fire under control, according to North Kitsap Fire & Rescue spokesperson Michele Laboda.
A Phase 1 burn ban has been in effect for Kitsap County since June 28 due to the fact that outdoor burning is a leading cause of wildland fires. Under a Phase 1 burn ban, only small recreational fires (using dry, seasoned firewood or charcoal in a designated fire pit) are allowed. Despite cooler-than-expected summer temperatures, fire danger remains a concern.
Fire danger is expected to increase with warmer, drier weather forecasted for the coming holiday weekend and beyond, Laboda said.
