There will be no campfires permitted on private property in unincorporated Island County under a heightened burn ban that takes effect this week.

The restriction goes effect at 8 a.m. Thursday, July 30 and will remain so until further notice, said Island County Sheriff Mark Brown, who also is the county fire marshal.

The modified burn ban is due to the increased fire danger during the current hot, dry weather, Brown said.

The only campfire exceptions are those in supervised county, state, private or national campgrounds, and those fires must be extinguished by 10 p.m. daily.

State and national parks, and the state Department of Natural Resources regulate burning on their own property.

Wider regulations banning other forms of outdoor burning in Island County remain in effect. Burning garbage and the use of burn barrels remains illegal, and is subject to fines up to $1,000.

Meanwhile, a permanent burn ban also remains in effect in the urban growth areas Langley, Freeland, Coupeville and Oak Harbor.

For information on the permanent burn bans in those areas, contact the Northwest Clean Air Agency at 1-800-622-4627 or click here.

For information about county burning regulations, call Fire Warden Fred Wefer at 360-391-0392.