Now that the annual grass fire season has started, local authorities are reminding residents of the different rules and regulations to follow.
The fire season unofficially kicked off last weekend with close to 60 controlled burns across Lyon County, and county officials expect a robust season after a snowy and wet winter. On KVOE’s Newsmaker 3 segment Thursday, Lyon County Emergency Management Director Jarrod Fell reminded residents to get a free burn permit if they have not already done so. Residents also need to alert authorities by calling 343-4225, both before the burn starts and after it ends.
Lyon County Emergency Communications Center Director Roxanne Van Gundy says people typically follow the county’s procedures at the start of the season. That may change later.
As has been the case since 2016, Lyon County will have automatic burn bans — and disallow any planned rangeland burns — whenever the National Weather Service issues red flag warnings for the county. Those warnings indicate extreme fire danger due to dry and windy conditions.
Something new this year: the Emporia Fire Department has installed signs demonstrating the fire risk at both the headquarters location downtown and Station 2 at 15th and Industrial.
Fell reminds residents planning burns they are responsible for their fires and resulting impacts, if the burns get out of control, until the fires are extinguished.
