March officially signals the start of spring wildfire season in western North Carolina. The N.C. Forest Service is urging Clay County residents to practice caution and be safe when burning this spring.
North Carolina is ranked third in the nation for the number of human-caused wildfires. Escaped outdoor fires continue to be the leading cause of wildfires in North Carolina.
Spring weather draws people outdoors to do yard work and many choose burning as a method to dispose of leaves and other yard debris. March through May are the peak months for wildfire activity. Fires that are left unattended can spread quickly and easily escape control.
For those that choose to burn, the N.C. Forest Service recommends the following tips:
• Consider alternatives to burning. Some types of debris, such as leaves and grass, may be of more value if they are not burned but used for mulch instead.
• Check local burning laws. Some communities allow burning only during specified hours. Others forbid it entirely.
• Make sure you have a valid permit. You can obtain a burn permit at any N.C. Forest Service office or authorized permitting agent or online: www.ncforestservice.gov/burnpermit.
• Keep an eye on the weather. Don’t burn on dry, windy days.
• Local fire department officials and NCFS personnel can recommend safe ways to burn debris. For example, don’t pile vegetation on the ground that has not been cleared. Clear the area several feet away from your debris pile or screened burn receptacle. Watch out for overhead branches and wires.
• Household trash must be hauled away to a trash or recycling station. It is illegal to burn anything other than vegetative material.
• Be sure you are fully prepared before burning. To control your fire, you will need a hose, bucket, steel rake and a shovel for tossing dirt on the fire. Keep a phone nearby too just in case you lose control of the fire and need to call 911.
• Never use kerosene, gasoline, diesel fuel or other flammable liquids to speed up burning debris.
• Stay with your fire until it is completely out.
• These same tips apply to campfires and grills as well. Douse burning charcoal briquettes or campfires thoroughly with water. Drown all coals/embers, not just the red ones. When soaked, stir the hot coals/embers and soak them again. Make sure everything is wet and that coals/embers are cold to the touch. If you do not have water, mix enough dirt or sand with the coals/embers to extinguish the fire. Never dump hot ashes or coals into a wooded area.
• In addition to the rules above, a fire line should be plowed, raked or blown around the area to be burned when burning agricultural residue and forestland litter. Before any burning in a wooded area, contact your NCFS county ranger for technical advice on burning.
To learn more about fire safety and preventing wildfires and loss of property, visit: www.ncforestservice.gov. For details about creating defensible space and a fire-resistant landscape around your home and property, visit: www.resistwildfirenc.org.
This article was submitted by N.C. Forest Service Clay County Ranger Bob Ray. He can be reached at (828) 389-4190.