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Oct
26
Written by:
news editor
10/26/2011 1:00 AM
Following Ohio’s outdoor burning laws this fall will help rural landowners stay safe and prevent wildlfires.
COLUMBUS, OH — Following Ohio’s outdoor burning laws this fall will help rural landowners stay safe and prevent wildlfires, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Forestry.
“As fallen leaves accumulate they become good tinder for wildfires,” said Robert Boyles, chief of the ODNR Division of Forestry. “Ohioans are encouraged to use extreme caution when considering open burning because escaped fires occur easily and can spread rapidly.”
Ohio law prohibits open debris fires from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. during October and November in the fall, and March through May in the spring. Violators of Ohio’s burning regulations are subject to citations and fines.
Dried weeds, grasses, and crops are other natural fuels that easily carry wildfires in Ohio. Knowledge of Ohio open burning regulations is important for safety of lives and property. Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations prohibit burning leaves and other yard waste within a municipal corporation or a restricted area near a municipality. Rules also prohibit open burning within 1,000 feet of an inhabited building on a neighboring property.
Brush, tree trimmings, and leaves may be burned only on the property where they are generated if boundary requirements are met. Garbage, dead animals, or material containing rubber, grease, or petroleum (such as tires) cannot be burned in Ohio.
http://www.epa.ohio.gov/dapc/general/openburning.aspx
Consult with local fire officials about burning conditions. If a fire does escape control, immediately contact the local fire department. An escaped wildfire, even one burning in grass or weeds, is dangerous.
The ODNR Division of Forestry offers these safety tips for burning debris outdoors:
- Consider using a 55-gallon drum with a weighted screen lid to provide an enclosed incinerator.
- Know current and future weather conditions, have suppression tools like a charged hose on hand, and always stay nearby the debris burn.
- Know state and local burning regulations.
- Consult your local fire department for additional information and safety considerations.
- Visit www.ohiodnr.com/forestry and www.firewise.org for tips on protecting your rural home and community.
- Remember--Smokey Bear says “Only YOU can prevent wildfire!”
Ohio grows more acres of trees than corn and soybeans combined. The ODNR Division of Forestry works to promote the wise use and sustainable management of Ohio’s public and private woodlands. To learn more about Ohio’s woodlands, visit the Division of Forestry’s Web site at www.ohiodnr.com/forestry.
LINK to ODNR and Ohio EPA graphic summary of outdoor burning regulations:
http://www.ohiodnr.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=ZwTg%2b1MP36E%3d&tabid=4803
The ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR Web site at www.ohiodnr.com.
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For more information, contact:
Greg Smith, ODNR Division of Forestry
740. 774. 1596 extension 106 or 614. 439. 6297
Linda Oros, Ohio EPA Public Interest Center
614. 644. 2160
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