Washington County burn ban now in effect

A burn ban for Washington County took effect on Friday, July 1.
 The ban on open burning is to remain in effect until Oct. 20 or unless it is determined, based on temperature and precipitation, that it can be lifted earlier.
 The Weiser Rural Fire District and Washington County Sheriff’s Office jointly make that determination.
 Washington County, in part, defines “open burning” as, “igniting or maintaining a fire outside of an enclosed building, dwelling structure, or completely enclosed heating or cooking appliance, which shall be defined as any outdoor fire, including but not limited to campfires, warming fires, charcoal grill fires, fused explosives, out-of-season ground fireworks.”
The full code (Title 8, Ch.10) addressing open burning, including exemptions, can be found on the county’s website at www.co.washington.id.us.
 “We live in a desert; for about six months out of the year, burning here is very risky,” said Weiser Rural Fire District Chief, Tim Atwood. “We have so much cheat grass and medusa head grass. Right now, there is still a little bit of fuel moisture, especially on the north-facing slopes, but it’s going to cure out very quickly.”
 Atwood said that spring rains have allowed the vegetation to grow over a longer period of time, resulting in an unusually high fuel load.
 “There is more grass than we would normally have,” he said. “The upside is that it has taken a little longer to cure out, but the downside is that once it gets there, there will be more fuel.”
 Open burning, particularly garbage such as plastic, tires, and railroad ties, also sends unwanted chemicals airborne.
 “When you burn trash, you are putting contaminants into the atmosphere that none of us want to breathe,” he said. “It’s generally a bad idea.”
 Incidentally, fire crews on Thursday, June 30, responded to a small fire in Weiser ignited by a burning pile of railroad ties. Crews were able to quickly extinguish the fire. No injuries or damage was reported.
 Open burning during a burn ban is a misdemeanor under Washington County code and could come with a fine of up to $1,000 and up to six months in jail. The responsible party could also be held liable for the cost to extinguish any resulting wildfire.
 Wildfires can be costly and even deadly.
Willowcreek Fire
 There were multiple large fires in Idaho and the Pacific Northwest in 2021. This year’s first substantial blaze, the Willowcreek Fire north of Vale, was reported Tuesday, June 28.
 Larisa Bogardus, Public Affairs Specialist for Baker City, Ore. BLM, told the Weiser Signal American on Thursday that the cause was still under investigation by the Oregon State Fire Marshal.
 The fire was reported on private land Tuesday afternoon, crossing onto lands managed by the agency, according to Vale BLM management officials.
 The fire scorched 40,274 acres, over 66 square miles, and was 90 percent contained as of Wednesday, July 6. 
 Weiser Rural Fire initially responded, according to Atwood who said he and his firefighters arrived on site with a water tender and brush truck.
 “We responded through a mutual aid request from Vale,” he said. “We aren’t there now. This fire is early enough in the year that BLM still has a lot of resources.”
 Vale BLM Fire Duty Officer, Justin Fenton, said on Thursday that his agency has sufficient resources to manage the fire to containment, with continued support from contract operators and local Rangeland Protection Associations.
 “We’re getting around it,” he said. “We’re continuing to patrol and monitor, and crews are focusing on putting out hot spots.”
 

 

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Signal American

18 E. Idaho St.
Weiser, ID 83672
PH: (208) 549-1717
FAX: (208) 549-1718
 

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