Without rain, fire risk still high in city and region

Dry farm lands are often the site of grass and wild fires, commonly sparked by machinery. The city and county are also limiting rough cutting operations to further lessen the risk of fire.

“We’re still concerned a cutter or a swather could potentially hit a rock and can cause a spark and it actually has happened here in the last couple of weeks,” Lindsay says.

Improperly discarded smoking material remains the biggest concern, says Lindsay.

“The majority of our fires along municipal roadways we’re finding are cigarette-generated fires,” he says. “People, if they don’t have an ashtray in their brand new vehicle, stop by a dollar store and pick up a $2 ashtray and put it in your cup holder. If you’ve got to smoke, do it safely, please.”

Lindsay says homeowners in the city need to be careful as well.

“Take care of the shrubs and the dry foliage that’s along your fenceline. If by chance there is a fire that starts in an alley it’s not going to wick up the grasses or weeds in your property and then ignite your fences,” he said. “Just be cognizant of how dry it is around your own property and what it is you do on a daily basis anything can cause a spark, accidents do happen but if we alleviate the stuff that’s possible to alleviate we’re just asking people to be cognizant of that.”

He says to have a garden hose ready and if you have a fire extinguisher, learn how to use it before you need to.

As for the fire ban in the city, Lindsay says Hatters have generally respected it, but the fire department typically gets one or two calls each weekend.

He stresses there is no open burning of combustible materials allowed currently, only propane powered or natural gas fires.

by Chris Brown

Without rain, fire risk still high in city and region

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