PORT TOWNSEND – Jefferson County is lifting its burn ban early this year, with officials citing an especially wet summer, while Clallam County’s burn ban will remain in place until October.

The burn ban in East Jefferson County, which was established on July 2, will be lifted at midnight on Friday.

“It’s been a wet summer, and we’re lifting the burn ban,” said Al Scalf, Jefferson County director of the Department of Community Development and the county’s fire marshal.

“But still be careful.”

The fuel moisture index maintained by the state Department of Natural Resources, which is used to set and lift burn bans, shows that this summer has been the wettest in 10 years.

The index can be viewed at http:/www.dnr.wa.gov/htdocs/rp/COAST.GIF.

The state Resources Department set the fire danger at “low” on Tuesday.

Scalf said that there has been more rain this summer than in past summers, with seven consecutive rainy days at one point.