OCR Text |
Show Wildland fires exceed state averages for year The number of wildland fires caused caus-ed by fireworks this year is already more than the total for 1982. Acreage burned is four times as much as all of last year, according to State Forester Ralph Miles. This year has been unusually wet, especially in the spring. The wetness caused grasses to grow better than usual. Now that the grass is starting to cure, the scene is perfect for easy starting of fires. This combined with the new Utah state law which relaxed firework bans, has caused many more fires. Miles said people just don't take the proper precautions under the extraordinary extraor-dinary situation before us. The best thing that could happen is for people to just refrain from using fireworks, but if they must, they should do it under very controlled conditions, and not close to dry grass. Fireworks of any kind are illegal in national forests. Local officials warn the fire danger is very high and getting get-ting worse everyday, due to the dry ing grass. Besides the ban on fireworks, local foresters also encourage en-courage people not to smoke in the forests or other wild areas. If people must smoke they should do it in their car and snuff out the cigarette in the ashtray. Utah is now under a fire ban on all state land. Officials say the slightest spark in some areas could be disasterous. , People responsible for causing fires on wildlands are liable for the costs of putting the fire out as well as repaying repay-ing damages the fire may cause, Miles said. The interagency fire dispatcher telephone number is 789-7021. Anyone spotting a wildland fire is encourged to call, locate the fire, and give as much information about the fire as possible. Officials also encourage people to report any violations of state or federal laws pertaining to use of fire in wildland areas. |