Open burning permitted through Christmas

Open burning season begins today in the East Fork Fire Protection District and will continue through Christmas.

Unlike agricultural burning, which is open year around, backyard burning is designed to give homeowners a means to clean up plant debris to help maintain defensible and survivable space, according to Fire Marshal Amy Ray.

“After a very dry summer, fuel conditions within the East Fork Fire Protection District remain very volatile, even in the fall and winter, and depending on how much moisture the area gets,” Ray said. “Please follow all regulations at all times.”

The fire district requires anyone who plans to burn to have a current seasonal open burning information sheet with them and at the burn site prior to and during the burn.

Burners are required to call the burn line phone number, located on the document, each day to find out whether they can burn or not.

“If it is not a permissive burn day, no burning of any kind is permissible,” Ray said.

It’s up to burners to make sure the recording matches the day they plan to burn. The burn line recording will be changed daily, barring some mishap. It is a recording only, and callers can’t leave a message.

Burning is allowed to start as early as 7 a.m. and go as late as 3 p.m. with all fires completely extinguished by 3:30 p.m.

East Fork personnel will be keeping an eye on burning to ensure individuals are conducting seasonal open burning within regulations.

Strict enforcement of the required burning regulations will take place, including the issuance of written stop orders and citations for violators.

Seasonal open burning documents will be available at any fire station within the fire district, at district’s administrative office at 1694 County Road. Regulations may also be downloaded and printed from the district’s website at www.eastforkfire.org

For additional information, call the district at 775-782-9040.