AGRICULTURE

Agriculture and Debris Burning

Fire has been an integral part of agricultural management as long as humans have systematically grown crops. Modern technologically based agriculture still utilizes burning and for some crops it is the only economical means available to deal with residue.

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The reasons for burning vary. The most common reasons are to reduce pre- and post-harvest vegetation that interferes with harvest, tillage or subsequent seedbed preparation. Burning is used for pest and weed control and lowers the need for supplemental herbicide and pesticide treatments. For example, the occasional burning of pruning and other vegetative debris are important controls for pest and disease in the orchard industry. 

Certain crops require burning to stimulate new growth and trigger higher yield, e.g., blue grass varieties, and strongly influence the economic sustainability of the grass seed industry. Burning is also used periodically to reduce fire hazard, e.g., on rangelands, weed infestation, and clogging of ditches and irrigation canals.

                                                         

Tips to safer debris burning: 

• Check for local bans on outdoor burning.
• Keep informed of wildfire danger levels.
• Avoid burning trash, leaves and brush on dry, windy days.
• Check to see if weather changes are expected. Postpone outdoor burning if shifts in wind direction, high winds or wind gusts are in the forecast.
• Before doing any burning, establish wide control lines down to bare mineral soil at least five feet wide around any burn barrels and even wider around brush piles and other piled debris to be burned. The larger the debris pile, the wider the control line needed to ensure burning materials won’t be blown or roll off the pile into vegetation outside the line.
• Burn household trash only in a burn barrel or other trash container equipped with a screen or metal grid to keep burning material contained.
• Never attempt to burn aerosol cans; heated cans will explode. Flying material may cause injuries and the explosion may scatter burning material into nearby vegetation and cause a wildfire.
• Stay with outdoor fires until they are completely out.
• Keep water and hand tools ready in case your fire should attempt to spread. 

Welding

Welding fires are caused by sparks, droplets of melted metal, torch flames, combustible materials touching a hot piece of equipment, or flammable vapors igniting due to heat. Sparks can travel up to 35 feet at temperatures hotter than 2500°F.

By taking the time to maintain equipment and prepare work areas, you can mitigate the threat of starting a wildfire.

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Wildfire prevention begins, first and foremost, with the welder so welders should take the following precautions:

• Clear away vegetation or any other combustible materials around the welding area
• Use a sprayer to wet down the area prior to starting welding operations.

Spark Arresters On Equipment

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All equipment has the potential of starting a wildland fire due to hot exhaust particles, hot exhaust systems, or operator error. The combination of dry fuels and hot exhaust can be disastrous. One out of every five human-caused fires is equipment related.

 Equipment requiring the use of a general-purpose spark arrester can be found in all types of wildland settings. This equipment ranges from huge tractors involved in road construction to rototillers and lawn mowers used by homeowners.

Hoot Owl Restrictions

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Hoot Owl is a historic term used to notify woodcutters of elevated fire danger and to only cut in the morning hours when you can hear Hoot Owls. 

This has developed into the modern policy of no chainsaws running in the woods after 1:00 p.m. The restriction is in place to reduce the risk of an accidental fire start by mechanical equipment during the hottest and driest part of the day.

 

A long handled shovel and a pressurized chemical fire extinguisher not less than 8 oz. in capacity is required by all firewood cutting permit holders. Permittees are also required to monitor the area they cut in for one hour after cutting to ensure no spark has been fanned to a flame. 

Please report fires by calling 9-1-1