Exercise caution when burning

It certainly seems like Mother Nature can’t make up her mind, giving us days in the 70s followed by snow and rain before teasing us with another little warm spell.

You would think, with all the moisture and the green grass that spring burning would be fine, and in most instances, it is, but we’ve also been having wind which can dry out those grasses pretty quickly.

Calm winds in the morning can lull you into a sense of security and then here comes the wind in the afternoon. Add a controlled burn to a windy day and its a recipe for disaster.

Our Thermopolis Volunteer Firemen have already been on a few grass fires that started as controlled burns that quickly went out of control. Imagine the cost of lost outbuildings or equipment, homes, pets – when a simple phone call could have prevented it.

Federal, state and local agencies normally get the weather forecast before they start any kind of burning or other activity, and that forecast is available to everyone through the National Weather Service in Riverton.

The National Weather Service can be contacted, 24-hours a day, by calling 1-800-211-1448 or online at weather.gov/riverton. There is even an app for your smartphone at mobile.weather.gov.

If you must burn, be prepared by establishing fire breaks and have water ready along with equipment and plenty of hands to help should things go wrong. Its a good idea to let your neighbors know you’ll be burning, too, to prevent them calling the fire department for a controlled burn.

One of the biggest things you can do is call dispatch and let them know you’re going to be burning that day. If they have your property down as having a controlled burn that day there is less of a chance the fire department will be called out for a ‘smoke chase.’

Agricultural burning is a part of spring in Wyoming, we just want you to exercise some caution when you do.