White Co. Emergency Officials Cautioning Against Outdoor Burning

White County Emergency Officials asking residents to refrain from outdoor burning while dry periods continue.

Fire Departments have been out all day Tuesday on brush or grass fires, vehicle fires, and structure fires. EMA Director Matt McBride said on Tuesday alone, firefighting crews responded to around nine calls.

“I think it’s a concern of everyone’s,” McBride said. “I think it might be a pickup of what we normally see, but I think conditions are a little drier than normal. We’ve not received a lot of fall rain.”

McBride said the Department of Forestry will not issue burn permits for the rest of the week. He said Spara Fire Chief Kirk Young said that no permits will be issued in the city as well.

During the dry seasons, McBride asks residents to burn piles no larger than 8×8. He said residents should check drought conditions to ensure their area is not in a danger zone if they decide to burn.

“We try to monitor as close as we can and we do see it this time of year fall and spring is probably as far as brush as grass fires,” McBride said. “Because people like to clean up their yards, get their leaves out, and although we want to encourage that we want to encourage people to be very careful. Make sure they don’t leave fires unattended, even with recreational fires we ask right now we ask that once they’re done put them out and soak the ashes really well.”