Peters has proposed slightly modified boundaries for the no-burn area to avoid cutting neighborhoods in half. It would not be good if it were OK for half a neighborhood to burn but not for the other half, he said. Those revised boundaries are expected to be approved by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, possibly in September, said Jim Nolan, director of compliance for the agency. Although Kitsap County's air remains fairly clean compared to more urban counties, Nolan expects the burn ban to provide a measurable improvement in local air quality. The Clean Air Agency is about to launch a major public-education campaign to make people aware of the upcoming burn ban.
Health is a major concern.
According to a recent survey, Kitsap residents have a lot to learn about the rules, Hoke said. For example, it is already illegal to burn construction debris left over from building a house, he said, nor can you burn the debris from tearing down a building. In some ways, banning all burning will simplify the rules in urban areas, where different types of fires and various fire districts can create confusion. Fire districts will still be the first to respond to any type of fire complaint, said Derek Crowley, the county's fire marshal. But if further action is needed, Crowley may take on the role of investigator for the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.