DFPA News Release: PREDICTED WARM WEATHER BRINGS FIRE THREAT USE CAUTION WHEN BURNING DEBRIS The warm, spring weather is the perfect time to accomplish back yard burning before fire season officially begins, as long as it’s done with fire safety in mind. A few days of sunshine in Douglas County is all it takes to dry out landscapes and make them more susceptible to fire. The Douglas Forest Protective Association urges residents to use caution and to refer to the following checklist before burning: • Call your local fire department to see if a burning permit is required. Burning regulations are not the same in all areas. • Piles should be completely surrounded by a fire trail that is scraped to mineral soil. • Have a shovel and charged garden hose at the burn site. • Avoid burning during windy conditions. • Stay with the fire until it is completely out. • Divide large piles into smaller piles. Smaller piles burn quickly, efficiently, and are easier to control. • If your debris burn escapes control, call 911 immediately. In addition, anyone who has already burned piles this winter or spring is encouraged to go back and make sure that they don’t show any signs of heat or smoke. Old burn piles can hold fire for several months before they flare up again on a hot, windy day. Residents are also reminded that escaped debris burns are not only potentially destructive, but can be costly. State law requires the proper clearing, building, attending, and extinguishing of open fires any time of year. If your debris burn spreads out of control, you are responsible for the cost of fire suppression and very likely the damage to neighboring properties. This can range from a few hundred, to potentially millions of dollars. In 2013, The Oregon Department of Forestry and Forest Protective Associations spent over $190,000 statewide on fires caused by debris burning.
Posted on: Mon, 12 May 2014 05:27:19 +0000
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