Open burning starts today

Controlled backyard burning season opened today in Carson Valley and will last through May 16, according to East Fork Fire Marshal Steve Eisele.

Burning hours start at 7 a.m. and wrap up at 3:30 p.m.

Called open burning, it allows residents to burn brush, and other slash. It is not a ticket to burn garbage, oil, rubber, plastic, tar paper or asphalt products. Burners are expected to maintain control of their fires, and could be billed for the costs of suppressing a fire that gets out of hand.

Burners should watch the weather and stop burning if the wind comes up. According to the permit burning should stop if the wind exceeds 15 mph. Every morning, fire district officials determine whether burning will be allowed. Since burners are supposed to call the phone number on their permit each morning they burn, they can find out when they are not in a burn day.

At least one person at a burn site has to be 18 years or older. Burns should be done in an open area at least 30 feet from a structure or something flammable. Burn stacks should be 3-feet high by 5-feet in diameter. Piles can be broken up to meet the requirement, but should be burned one at a time.

Burn barrels are not allowed at any time in the East Fork Fire District. Burners are expected to have a garden hose attached to a pressurized water supply immediately available. For more information, or to print out a copy of the permit, visit www.eastforkfire.org