Public warned of fire danger this season

The 2007 fire season is here, and with the temperature getting incessantly warmer and the grounds becoming drier it is important to be fire safe and know about fire danger, prevention and causes, fire officials say.

The fire season for Mountain Home usually begins in July, but it could start earlier this year, Fire Chief Phil Gridley said. "It's (the brush) already cured and getting drier."

Last year on average during the fire season there were 40 to 50 calls per month concerning fires. Some were small, but some got to be extremely large with homes and subdivisions in danger, Gridley said.

Just last week there was a brush fire off of Old Highway 31 that was caused by a controlled burn of tumbleweeds that got out of hand. The wind came up, quickly the tumbleweeds were in the dry brush, said Gridley.

If you are going to burn tumbleweeds, Gridley's advice would be to burn the tumbleweeds in a burn barrel so they can't blow away, and feed them into it as needed. "Tumbleweeds are just like gasoline."

He also suggests burning either early in the morning or late in the evening when the wind is calmer. In the middle of the day the humidity is low and the fire danger is higher. The wind comes up and the fire has a higher chance of getting away and becoming out of control.

Controlled burns are allowed up through the middle of July, but a permit is required from May 10 to October 20 for all open burning. And all controlled burns could be stopped sooner, if conditions warrant, said Gridley. "When we put a burn ban in place that includes all fires."

Burn permits are available at the Mountain Home City web page at www.mountain-home.us and at the Mountain Home Fire Station Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The permits are free and good for 60 days, and provide guidelines for people wanting to burn. It also gives the fire department a record of who is burning, said Gridley. Having a record of who is burning is important because it helps cut down on false alarms.

If a brush fire does occur, whether from a controlled burn or not, the best way to be prepared for it would be through preventative measures.

One measure would be a defensible space around structures to try to protect them. In the city, Gridley recommends a 30-foot fire break around the property line. "In our area with the wind, it's better to have a 60-foot fire break."

To remain relatively safe outside the city, there should be a green space of 30 to 40 feet around structures, he said. "People without green space and who let weeds grow right up against their house, their house is going to catch fire," he warned.

John Sabala, BLM Fire Mitigation and Education Manager, reminded the public "not to park or drive over dry grass and brush, be sure to have water on hand when conducting debris burning and make sure campfires are completely out and cool to the touch prior to leaving the campfire."

It is not only important to know the dangers and preventions of fire, but also to know the various causes. The number one cause is the Fourth of July, said Gridley. People who set off illegal fireworks such as, roman candles, firecrackers and bottle rockets "can be fined a substantial amount of money," as well as charged for the cost of fighting the fire. "People don't understand the damage fireworks can cause when used improperly."

Gridley recommends purchasing only from "safe and sane" fireworks stands, which only carry legal fireworks.

Another cause of brush fires and the culprit of at least eight fires last year was target shooting in the desert, probably using tracers, said Gridley. Parking cars on cheatgrass also is a cause of brush fires. A car's catalytic converter is so hot it can easily start a fire, he said.

With the weather warming up, people are beginning to recreate more on public lands. That, combined with dry grasses, further increases the need for the public to be cautious.

For more information and safety tips concerning the fire season call the Mountain Home Fire Department at 587-2117, at the BLM at 308-5991 for Brock Astle, or Heather Tiel at 736-2352.