Get set to torch those leaves

You can almost hear the matches striking in the background.

After a summer of record-breaking arid weather, Fire District 7 has finally decided the land is wet enough to allow residential burning.

The 14-week-long burn ban was lifted Monday, to the delight of many. Even Fire District Commissioner Dusty Wiley on Thursday half-jokingly announced his intention to start torching his accumulated brush piles over the weekend, in advance of the actual ban cessation date.

Wiley, like many in rural South Kitsap, has no other practical means to dispose of yard waste other than burning.

Those on large properties, he pointed out many times over the burn-free summer, quickly accumulate giant heaps of cut brush if not allowed to burn on a regular basis.

Fire officials, however, warn residents not to get carried away and torch everything all at once.

They ask would-be burners to remember to observe all standing fire regulations and to make sure to watch the fires at all times.

Officials also remind residents to keep emergency fire extinguishers such as buckets of water on hand during any outdoor burning.

Port Orchard residents living in and around the city limits are not affected by this ban lift — no residential burning is ever allowed within the city’s urban growth area. McCormick Woods’ urban growth area is also off-limits for brush burning.

For more information on outdoor burning, visit www.kitsapburnban.org or call 871-2425.

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