Controlled ditch burn turns into uncontrolled field fire
by Sublette County Unified Fire
April 22, 2020
Sublette County Unified Fire was dispatched to a controlled burn, that became uncontrolled, Tuesday afternoon, April 21st. in hay meadow in Boulder. A quick response by the homeowner and units from Sublette County Unified Fire kept this fire from nearby structures. In addition to Sublette County Sherriff’s deputies and Sublette County EMS, 24 fire fighters from across the county all came together for this response. What began as burning out an irrigation ditch became a wind-driven fire that covered nearly 50 acres of meadow before being stopped. Even with snow still in parts of the meadow and frost still in ground near the fence lines the fire rapidly progressed in dry fuels driven by continuous winds.
With the weather warming up and folks getting ready for summer, people are beginning to clean up yards and fields. Before you decide to burn off last year’s grass and wood piles, take some of these points into consideration:
• Do you know what the weather is like for the day/week? Being aware of potential weather patterns should help you choose the best time for any burning activities.
• Do you have what you need if the fire gets beyond what you expect? Planning is key here. It is easy for a small fire to get out of hand especially with surprise wind gusts. Always have a plan before burning to get you the help you need just in case. Extra fire extinguishers, manpower, and a backup water supply are all good things to have at the ready.
• Do you have the time to see it through? Make sure to commit time to stay with the burn until it is cold and out.
• Did you notify your neighbors? Knowledge can be some of the best prevention.
• Did you notify the Sherriff’s Office before burning? This one can be easy to forget. It should not come as a surprise, but SCUF is called out to many controlled burns that someone else saw from a distance and made a 911 call.
• Did you know that you could be held responsible for a fire that gets out of your control! Wyoming State Statute, WSS 3-6-106, deals with this directly.
Also attached to the email is a brochure taken from the Wyoming DEQ website for Wyoming residents (http://deq.wyoming.gov/media/attachments/Air%20Quality/Open%20Burning/Guidance/Open%20burning%20brochure%20-%20no%20marks_6Vts9Ge.pdf). It is full of helpful information concerning open burning.
If you have any questions, call SCUF before burning: 307-367-4550
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