Post by SIERRA 14 on Apr 21, 2006 19:11:53 GMT -5
The Rocket Courier
Susquehanna County Extends Burn Ban - by Ann Morrill Whynman - 4/20/2006
Susquehanna County's burn ban has been extended for another 30 days through May 15, following the initial ban started in mid March. Mark Wood, EMA Director, said that 15 of the 18 fire chiefs agreed that the ban should be extended, and that the current ban has cut down on the number of fires. Even so, one fireperson has been injured this spring fighting a brush fire and had to be air-lifted to Danville.
The burn ban is for all outdoor burning with the exception of grills or tobacco. Fire rings in designated state, federal and DEP licensed campgrounds are also exempt. All other outdoor burning is illegal, and Wood said there have been citations issued already.
The Daily Review
Bradford County imposes voluntary ban on burning
BY JAMES LOEWENSTEIN 04/21/2006
Due to the dry conditions, a voluntary, temporary ban on outdoor burning has been instituted in Bradford County.
The ban applies to outdoor burning, either in a burn barrel or on the ground, said Nancy Schrader, chairman of the Bradford County commissioners.
Under the ban, outdoor burning "would voluntarily not be done at this time" due to the dry conditions, she said.
The ban, which was passed by the commissioners on Thursday, went into effect immediately.
"This is kind of a reminder to use extreme precaution (when burning), or just don't do it at all," Bradford County Commissioner Doug McLinko said.
The ban does not apply to propane or gas stoves, charcoal briquette grills, or cigarettes, Schrader said. The ban also does not apply to campfires in fire rings that confine and contain the campfire in designated state, federal or Department of Environmental Protection-licensed campgrounds, she said.
County officials have been in contact with Brian Plume, a forest fire specialist with the Bureau of Forestry, who has said the voluntary ban is necessary,
according to Schrader.
There have been numerous brush fires in the area recently, McLinko noted.
It takes only a small flame to ignite a large fire, as shown by Wednesday's fire outside of New Albany, which consumed dozens of acres, Schrader said.
All three commissioners voted to pass the voluntary ban. The ban will be in effect until further notice.
James Loewenstein can be reached at (570) 265-1633; or email: jloewenstein@thedailyreview.com
The Evening Times
Bradford County: Commissioners ask for ‘volunteer burning ban'
By LISA R. HOWELER Times Reporter
TOWANDA - The Bradford County Commissioners Thursday issued a request for residents to voluntarily refrain from burning outside to avoid brush fires or other types of fires.
The request comes after a rash of brush fires in the county over the last two weeks and after the commonwealth of Pennsylvania declared a drought watch for all 67 counties. The most serious of the Bradford County brush fires came Wednesday in Albany Township where 50 acres of land was burned and seven fire departments were called out to fight the flames.
According to information provided by the commissioners, a burning ban is defined as “the ignition and subsequent burning of any combustible material (garbage, leaves, grass, twigs, litter, paper, vegetative matter involved with land clearing or any sort of debris) out-of-doors either in a burn barrel or on the ground. The use of propane or gas stoves, charcoal briquette grills, or the use of tobacco in any form is not covered under this act. Camp fires are allowed in fire rings that confine and contain the camp fire in designated state, federal or Department of Environmental Protection-licensed campgrounds.”
Last week, Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said that precipitation levels in the commonwealth are below normal across every county.
“Two-thirds of our counties are 50 percent or more below their normal precipitation levels. The remaining counties are reporting a deficit of at least 25 percent,” she said in a statement.
The Susquehanna River is 65 percent below normal flow, and some waters recently posted record low flows, including the Loyalhanna Creek, the Clarion River and the Schuylkill River, according to the state.
A drought watch is the lowest of three levels of drought status and includes asking for a 5 percent reduction in water use by residents. A drought warning calls for a voluntary reduction of 10 percent to 15 percent and a drought emergency includes mandatory reductions of at least 15 percent. The state last had a drought emergency in 2002.
Susquehanna County Extends Burn Ban - by Ann Morrill Whynman - 4/20/2006
Susquehanna County's burn ban has been extended for another 30 days through May 15, following the initial ban started in mid March. Mark Wood, EMA Director, said that 15 of the 18 fire chiefs agreed that the ban should be extended, and that the current ban has cut down on the number of fires. Even so, one fireperson has been injured this spring fighting a brush fire and had to be air-lifted to Danville.
The burn ban is for all outdoor burning with the exception of grills or tobacco. Fire rings in designated state, federal and DEP licensed campgrounds are also exempt. All other outdoor burning is illegal, and Wood said there have been citations issued already.
The Daily Review
Bradford County imposes voluntary ban on burning
BY JAMES LOEWENSTEIN 04/21/2006
Due to the dry conditions, a voluntary, temporary ban on outdoor burning has been instituted in Bradford County.
The ban applies to outdoor burning, either in a burn barrel or on the ground, said Nancy Schrader, chairman of the Bradford County commissioners.
Under the ban, outdoor burning "would voluntarily not be done at this time" due to the dry conditions, she said.
The ban, which was passed by the commissioners on Thursday, went into effect immediately.
"This is kind of a reminder to use extreme precaution (when burning), or just don't do it at all," Bradford County Commissioner Doug McLinko said.
The ban does not apply to propane or gas stoves, charcoal briquette grills, or cigarettes, Schrader said. The ban also does not apply to campfires in fire rings that confine and contain the campfire in designated state, federal or Department of Environmental Protection-licensed campgrounds, she said.
County officials have been in contact with Brian Plume, a forest fire specialist with the Bureau of Forestry, who has said the voluntary ban is necessary,
according to Schrader.
There have been numerous brush fires in the area recently, McLinko noted.
It takes only a small flame to ignite a large fire, as shown by Wednesday's fire outside of New Albany, which consumed dozens of acres, Schrader said.
All three commissioners voted to pass the voluntary ban. The ban will be in effect until further notice.
James Loewenstein can be reached at (570) 265-1633; or email: jloewenstein@thedailyreview.com
The Evening Times
Bradford County: Commissioners ask for ‘volunteer burning ban'
By LISA R. HOWELER Times Reporter
TOWANDA - The Bradford County Commissioners Thursday issued a request for residents to voluntarily refrain from burning outside to avoid brush fires or other types of fires.
The request comes after a rash of brush fires in the county over the last two weeks and after the commonwealth of Pennsylvania declared a drought watch for all 67 counties. The most serious of the Bradford County brush fires came Wednesday in Albany Township where 50 acres of land was burned and seven fire departments were called out to fight the flames.
According to information provided by the commissioners, a burning ban is defined as “the ignition and subsequent burning of any combustible material (garbage, leaves, grass, twigs, litter, paper, vegetative matter involved with land clearing or any sort of debris) out-of-doors either in a burn barrel or on the ground. The use of propane or gas stoves, charcoal briquette grills, or the use of tobacco in any form is not covered under this act. Camp fires are allowed in fire rings that confine and contain the camp fire in designated state, federal or Department of Environmental Protection-licensed campgrounds.”
Last week, Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said that precipitation levels in the commonwealth are below normal across every county.
“Two-thirds of our counties are 50 percent or more below their normal precipitation levels. The remaining counties are reporting a deficit of at least 25 percent,” she said in a statement.
The Susquehanna River is 65 percent below normal flow, and some waters recently posted record low flows, including the Loyalhanna Creek, the Clarion River and the Schuylkill River, according to the state.
A drought watch is the lowest of three levels of drought status and includes asking for a 5 percent reduction in water use by residents. A drought warning calls for a voluntary reduction of 10 percent to 15 percent and a drought emergency includes mandatory reductions of at least 15 percent. The state last had a drought emergency in 2002.