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Adams lifts burn ban: Fire marshal says residents still are required to report open burns.Aug 18, 2010 (The Evening Sun - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- After a little more than a month, Adams County's fire marshal has lifted the countywide ban on open burning. Adams County Fire Marshal Glenn Herring said last month that until he saw enough green, open burns would be banned throughout the county, and on Monday, he announced he has finally seen enough green. While the recent rains might have helped to eliminate dry vegetation, Herring said it wasn't the only reason the ban was lifted. The normal rules for open burning are in place, Herring said, and all people wishing to conduct burns must call the Adams County Emergency 911 Communications Center at the non-emergency numbers (717) 677-8101 and (717) 624-2101 before starting the burn. Doing so, will eliminate emergency personnel and vehicles from being dispatched to a false alarm. "Due to the unnecessary movement of vehicles, more firefighters are injured each year going to false alarms than injured during actual fires," Herring said. All open burns must be conducted by a person 18 years old or older, and that person shall not leave the fire until it is extinguished. Herring asks that Adams County residents not burn on windy days, and that they should have water in containers or a garden hose nearby to control the fires. Residents can also burn materials in a metal barrel or container with mesh wire on top to keep sparks from spreading. Herring also noted that some municipalities have other restrictions such as permits, inspections or a total ban on burns, and encouraged residents to check with their borough or township before burning. [email protected] IF YOU BURN All people conducting open burns must report their fires to the Adams County Emergency 911 Communications Center by calling the non-emergency numbers (717) 677-8101 and (717) 624-2101. To see more of The Evening Sun, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.eveningsun.com. Copyright (c) 2010, The Evening Sun, Hanover, Pa. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com, e-mail [email protected], or call 866-280-5210 (outside the United States, call +1 312-222-4544). |