Sheriff Mark Brown, Island County’s fire marshal, says a countywide burn ban takes effect at 8 a.m. Wednesday, July 10.

The ban prohibits outdoor burning of natural debris even with a permit. Recreational and cooking fires are allowed only if contained in an approved fire pit lined with concrete or metal, such as those at established campgrounds.

Outdoor cooking is allowed on a propane barbecue, a briquette barbecue or self-contained camp stove.

The stretch of warm, dry weather has made the county’s natural fuels too combustible to allow outdoor burning.

The burn ban remains in effect until otherwise announced by Brown in his capacity as the county’s fire marshal, according to a news release issued by the sheriff’s office.