North Kitsap Fire & Rescue

Reminder about the upcoming ban on landclearing fires – The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA) has announced their intent to disallow landclearing fires (“landclearing fires” are those more than 10 feet in diameter that are used to dispose of stumps and other large natural debris after trees are removed) in Kitsap County beginning September 1. Although the fire department will be charged with enforcing this rule, PSCAA is the organization implementing it. If you’d like to know more about the change to outdoor burning in Kitsap County or find out about alternate means for disposing of landclearing debris, see the PSCAA’s website at http://www.pscleanair.org/landclearing.

More on outdoor burning – Permits, available free of charge at any of our staffed fire stations, are required for all outdoor fires. Outdoor fires are not allowed at county sites such as Arness Park and Point No Point. The rules for outdoor burning (available on our website at www.nkfr.org) apply throughout our district – even on homeowners associations’ community beaches such as those at Indianola, Jefferson Beach, Driftwood Key and Shorewoods. Some community beaches don’t allow burning at all; check with your homeowners’ association to find out if fires are allowed on your shared beach. Lastly, as the weather gets warmer and fire danger increases, watch for a temporary ban on all outdoor fires. Check on the current status of the ban at our website or call our Outdoor Burn Information Line at (360) 297-4888.

Fireworks – It isn’t too late have your chance to lead the Kingston parade aboard our flagship engine and enjoy the rest of the event from the deck of the Filling Station Pub. Fill out a form, agreeing to forego the purchase or use of private fireworks, and your family will be entered into a July 3 drawing for the grand prize. Forms are available at any of our staffed fire stations, at the Filling Station Pub, or on our website.

Water Safety – As of this writing, another young child has died in a drowning incident. The three year-old Longview boy wandered into a shallow swimming pool and, although the adults in the home had lost track of him for just five minutes, drowned. While vigilant supervision is the most important prevention strategy, life jackets can also help prevent this type of tragedy, and we have them for sale for $15 each or loan at the Paul T. Nichol Headquarters Station,26642 Miller Bay Rd NE. We are also proud co-sponsors of a life-jacket loaner kiosk at Hansville’s Buck Lake Park and are actively seeking a location where we can erect another similar kiosk. For more information or to partner with us this project, call (360) 297-3619.

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