K-State Ag Today: Notification of prescribed burn could save money, time
1:19 p.m. Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Before conducting a prescribed burn, a little advance notification can save a lot of headaches for both you and your local fire officials.
Ross Hauck, the fire management coordinator for the Kansas Forest Service, says in some counties, advising local officials of your plans isn’t just a courtesy, it’s the law.
Related links
Related story: Brush up on safety, weather when planning to burn
Prescribed burning safety (.pdf)
“We encourage – and in some counties it’s mandatory – that you notify the local dispatch center, which is usually the local sheriff in the county. We encourage you, even if it’s not mandatory, to notify those people that you are doing a prescribed burn," Hauck said. "That way, when people drive up and down the roads and they see smoke, they don’t necessarily call in, or if they do call it in, they can refer to their records and say ‘Yes, there is a prescribed burn there.’”
Hauck adds that dispatching firefighting resources costs local governments time and money, and in many rural areas, personal sacrifices are made.
“Most of the fireman in the state of Kansas are volunteers, and so when we call those fire departments, we take those people away from their jobs and their livelihood, and it costs the fire department money just to -- with the fuel the way it is today, it costs them for the fuel," Hauck said.
It’s also a good idea to notify authorities when your fires are out.
You can find more information at your local fire department or check out the links below.
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