Backyard burning in Ruhenstroth in fall 2021.
Photo by Kurt Hildebrand.
It might be a little damp, but the spring 2025 seasonal open burning period for the East Fork Fire Protection District began Monday and will continue through May 25.
“The district has identified the need to open a spring burn season to assist homeowners with the clean-up of natural vegetative debris and the maintenance of defensible and survivable space,” East Fork Fire Marshal Amy Ray said.
The district requires any persons participating in seasonal open burning to have a current authorization to conduct seasonal open burning information sheet with them and at the burn site prior to and during seasonal open burning operations.
“Individuals shall call the burn line phone number, located on the document, each day,” Ray said. “This recording will advise whether it is a permissive burn day or not. If it is not a permissive burn day, no burning of any kind is permissible. This decision is based on current and predicted weather conditions for our area.”
Residents shall ensure that the date of the permissive day corresponds to the date they wish to burn. This is an informational recording only, callers may not leave a message. The general seasonal open burn line recording will be changed daily. Burning may start as early as 7 a.m. and go as late as 3 p.m. with all fires completely extinguished by 3:30 pm.
The district will be monitoring all burning activities, including site investigations as required, to ensure individuals are conducting seasonal open burning per the Douglas County regulations.
Strict enforcement of the required burning regulations will take place, including the issuance of written stop orders and citations for violators of the seasonal open burn regulations.
Fuel conditions within the East Fork Fire Protection District remain very volatile, even in the fall and winter, and depending on how much moisture the area received. Please follow all regulations at all times.
Seasonal open burning documents will be available at any fire station within the East Fork Fire Protection District and at the East Fork Fire Protection District’s administrative office located at 1694 County Road. In addition, the regulations can also be downloaded and printed from the East Fork Fire Protection District’s website at www.eastforkfire.org.
For additional information contact the East Fork Fire Protection District at 775-782-9040.