Wild fire prevention tips for this 4th of July season

In 2014, a colossal wildfire hit the Fritch area on Mother’s Day. The fire caused millions of dollars in damage, destroyed homes, and left many residents on edge. Since this wildfire, area cities and fire departments have boosted mitigation techniques to prevent more wildfire destruction in the area. As July 4th approaches and many people will be shooting fireworks, there are several things that residents can also do to help diminish the risk of wildfires.

Hutchinson County experienced an extremely dry fall and winter, and with that comes lots of dry ground cover and vegetation. One of the crucial things that an individual can do is cut down tall vegetation such as dead shrubs, dead trees, and tall grass around their properties. In the event of a fire, not having this vegetation around your property will help reduce fuel for the fire.

The following is a further list of tips that residents can do to prevent wildfires:

Do not throw lite cigarettes out the window of your moving vehicle or out on the ground without completely extinguishing them first.

Do not drag chains behind your vehicle when connecting your vehicle to a trailer. Make sure chains are well secure and that they cannot fall and cause sparking after your vehicle goes into motion.

Do not leave campfires unattended.

According to the National Park Service, campfires are one of the leading causes of wildfires. Do not build your campfire close to tall vegetation or trees. If you have to leave, make sure to put your campfire out with at least one gallon of water.

Do not burn yard waste unless you check with your city and see if it is allowed first. Also, county residents make sure that it is permitted with the Hutchinson County Fire Marshal (burn bans, etc.). Do not leave yard burns unattended, and do not do burn yards on windy days.

Also, pay attention to whether or not the county is in a burn ban. The county fire marshal

gives a briefing to the county commissioners twice a month on whether to initiate the burn ban or not due to weather conditions, specifically the drought index. You can call the Hutchinson County Fire Marshal Office to check the status of the burn ban or any area fire department.