Hill County enacts burn ban

Press release

Hill County Commission today approved enacting a burn ban in the county effective 12:01 a.m. Friday.

The commission issued a statement on the ban:

Open burning refers to burning outside in the open air. By definition, open burning is a fire where any material is burned on the ground or in an open receptacle other than a furnace, incinerator, or other equipment connected to a stack or chimney. Open burning includes burning yard debris, brush, construction debris, etc.

Hill County requires a permit from the local fire district to engage in open burning at any time.

Any burn ban enacted by Hill County will prohibit open burning as defined and prohibit fire districts from issuing burn permits. Burn permits previously issued cannot be activated during a burn ban.

Exceptions: Recreational camp fires in established fire pits or commercial fire rings will be allowed at this time. Recreational campfires must be attended at all times.

The Hill County Commission urges the public to take the following general fire safety precautions:

• Ensure recreational camp fires are attended.

• Ensure you have the means to extinguish a campfire quickly.

• Be aware of the current wind and weather conditions.

• Ensure recreational fires are kept to a manageable size and are properly extinguished.

• Avoid driving or parking vehicles in tall, dry grass.

• Make sure safety chains on trailers or other equipment are not dragging creating sparks.

• Dispose of smoking materials properly. In a vehicle use an ash tray; outside, crush smoking materials and matches on bare ground in an area larger than three feet in diameter.

• Make sure all mechanical outdoor equipment (tractors, chainsaws, off-road vehicles, etc.) are equipped with properly working mufflers, spark arresters, and bearings

Watch for more in Friday’s edition of the Havre Daily News.