Fire Season,
Dry Conditions Prompt Fire Safety Reminder
NASHVILLE,
Tenn. – Officials with the Tennessee Department of
Agriculture Division of Forestry are reminding citizens of
permit requirements and fire safety precautions for outdoor
burning. The fire prevention message coincides with national
Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 7–13, and the official start of
forest fire season in Tennessee beginning Oct. 15.
“Because of
the extremely dry conditions going into what is normally our
driest time of the year and the traditional start of fire
season, it’s important that citizens call for a burning permit
and follow fire safety recommendations for outdoor burning,”
said state forester Steve Scott. “Many areas of the state are
still too dry to allow burning, and the permit system helps us
communicate to the public when and where it is safe to burn.”
The Division
of Forestry implemented burning permit requirements seven weeks
earlier than normal this year due to extremely dry conditions
from the lingering drought. Since Aug. 27, the Division has
issued more than 7,000 permits statewide, mostly following rain
showers that made burning temporarily safe in some areas.
Permits for the open, outdoor burning of leaves and wood debris
are normally not required except during official fire season,
Oct. 15 through May 15.
“By implementing
the burning permit system early, we think we’ve had a major impact
on reducing the number of escaped debris fires, which are a leading
cause of wildfires,” said Scott. “The public is a very important
partner in helping us reduce the number of wildfires by respecting
state and local restrictions, always using common sense and by
reporting suspicious activity that may be related to arson.”
According to state
Forestry officials, burning permits are not likely to be issued in
many areas of the state until substantial rainfall is received.
When conditions improve, citizens should inquire about burning
permits by calling their local Division of Forestry office listed in
the phone directory under state government between the hours of 8
a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. A directory of state
Forestry Division offices by county and fire safety tips also can be
found on the Web at
www.burnsafetn.org.
Activities
requiring a burning permit include, but are not limited to
unconfined, outdoor burning of brush and leaves, untreated wood
waste, and burning to clear land. Burning permits are required in
most areas unless superseded by local ordinance, so citizens are
encouraged to check for any restrictions by municipalities.
Since Jan. 1, more
than 2,900 fires have burned an estimated 40,900 acres in Tennessee,
well above average for what is normally seen in a 12-month period.
Escaped debris burns are the leading cause of wildfire. However, 36
percent of the wildfires this year have been due to arson, which is
a class C felony punishable by three to 15 years in prison and up to
$10,000 fines. Anyone with information about suspected arson
activity should call the state Fire Marshal’s Arson Hotline
toll-free at 1-800-762-3017.
Burning without a
permit is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail
and/or a fine not to exceed $50. For more information, visit the
Forestry Division’s wildfire safety Web site at
www.burnsafetn.org.
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This and other
news from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture can be found
online at
Tennessee.gov/agriculture/news
