Debris Burners Lose Control, Start Brush Fire
Our first story tonight is a good reminder for viewers at this time of year. On Sunday afternoon, when residents decided to burn debris on a day burn permits had not been issued, they were faced with a forest fire that spanned more than the length of a football field.
Long Rapids Fire Department received the call at around 1:30 in the afternoon that a fire had erupted in the woods off of Bean Creek Road.
“The homeowner was burning debris, stumps and brush and things of that nature, and the fire managed to get out of their control,” says DNR Forest Fire Officer Mark Hansen.
Officer Hansen says these things can happen when people don’t follow the DNR’s guidelines for burning things. The DNR issues regulations for burn permits on a day-to-day basis, depending on weather conditions. Even though the area has seen a good amount of precipitation over the past few days, Hansen says things like a slight breeze can cause a fire even on days that feel otherwise okay to burn.
“The surface winds dry out the fine fuels on top and it’ll burn right over the top of that no problem,” Hansen says.
Sunday’s fire took responders an hour and 20 minutes to put out, with Long Rapids and Green Township Fire Departments as well as the Michigan DNR Fire Control team on scene.
To avoid starting accidental brush fires like this one, make sure to get a burn permit before you burn. Call 866.922.burn or visit michigan.gov/burnpermit. It’ll help you choose the right day, and the proper way to burn safely.
