|
|
|
Fire managers extend closed fire season, burn
permits will be required past usual October 20
date |
|
October 15, 2015 |
Continued dry conditions and unseasonably high
fire danger statewide have prompted State of
Idaho fire managers to extend the period
required under law to obtain a fire safety burn
permit for certain controlled burn activities.
The Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) announced
today it would extend “closed fire season” until
further notice. Closed fire season begins May 10
and usually extends through October 20 every
year. Idaho law (38-115) requires any person
living outside city limits anywhere in Idaho who
plans to burn anything – including crop residue
burning and excluding recreational campfires –
during closed fire season to obtain a fire
safety burn permit.
“Even though it’s the middle of October,
conditions are expected to be warm and dry
enough across Idaho to ignite a wildfire that
can easily escape initial attack,” State
Forester David Groeschl said. “Requiring fire
safety burn permits past October 20 for certain
controlled burn activities enables fire managers
to set parameters for the types of burning
allowed in certain areas that are still at risk
for wildfire.”
By October, there also are fewer firefighters,
equipment, and aircraft available to respond to
a controlled burn if it escapes.
The fire safety burn permit system informs fire
managers where burning activities are occurring,
reducing the number of false runs to fires and
saving firefighting resources for instances in
which they are truly needed. It also enables
fire managers to respond more quickly to fires
that escape, potentially reducing the liability
of the burner if their fire escapes.
Fire safety burn permits can be obtained online
at
http://www.burnpermits.idaho.gov or in
person at IDL offices statewide. The fire safety
burn permit is free of charge and good for 10
days after it is issued. Permits issued through
the self service web site are available seven
days a week, issued immediately, and valid
immediately.
Residents also are encouraged to contact their
local city or rural fire department before
burning because some incorporated cities and
towns may require their own burn permit. IDL
will not issue fire safety burn permits within
districts where local burn bans are in effect.
Additionally, residents should contact the Idaho
Department of Environmental Quality or the Nez
Perce Tribe or Coeur d’Alene Tribe for burn
restriction information for air quality. DEQ can
be reached by calling (800) 633-6247 or visiting
http://deq.idaho.gov/air-quality.aspx.
If there are other burning restrictions in
effect or additional or alternate permits
required, the fire safety burn permit web site
will provide instructions for Idahoans on how to
contact those entities. |
|
|
|
Questions or comments about this
article?
Click here to e-mail! |
|
|
|
|
