During the coming months, many of us will be diligent in clearing a defensible space around our homes and outbuildings. Once we’ve gotten those branches, pine needles, brush cuttings and leaves piled high, it won’t be a good idea to just leave them where they lie … not only are they eye sores and great places for snakes to make their homes, but they can be a fire’s best chance to spread.
The first thing we’ll need to do is get a burn permit. This is crucial because on Red Flag Warning days, it’s just too hazardous for burning anything, even in a wood stove or fireplace. Chicago may be the official ‘windy city’, but our winds here in Boncarbo are pretty impressive at times! A nice gust could carry sparks from our burn sites to grass or brush a considerable distance away, and then we could be in big trouble. Not only will we have to deal with the fire damage and possible injuries, but we could get slapped with a fine for the illegal burn.
To get a burn permit we’ll need to call Mary Ann Herzog, Fire Chief of the Bon Carbo Volunteer Fire Department, at 846-8538 to make the request. If she’s unable to answer, we can leave a message – she’ll call back as soon as possible.
If a permit has been issued to us in the past, Chief Mary Ann will be able to give verbal approval over the phone. If this is a first request, she’ll schedule an appointment to inspect our burn site and, if it’s safe, issue the physical burn permit then.
It’s illegal to burn pretty much anything other than what we’ve cleared from trees or shrubs, so we’ll have to forget about torching those old tires or that stack of plastic bottles and containers we’ve been meaning to take to the landfill. Besides, some of those things give off toxic fumes when burned.
How to Burn Debris Safely, Part Two will cover how to prepare the burn site and will be posted at a later date.
Posted by Colleen C.
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