Opening burning starts this month

Opening burning started as of March 1 and no permits will be needed until May 1. According to a pamphlet provided by the U.S. Forest Service, from March until August, burners are responsible for determining favorable conditions. However, keep in mind that the Montana Department of Environmental Quality regulates smoke emissions from open burning to prevent and/or reduce air quality impacts.

 In June, permits will be issued at the discretion of the forest service and after June there is no open burning allowed due to increased fire danger until October. After that, open burning is allowed at the discretion of the forest service until November, and then residents are back to no permits required. No burning is allowed from December until February. Burning permits are available at the Superior Ranger Station, located at 209 West Riverside or call 406-822-4233.

Keep in mind that if fire danger is High, then only recreational fires are allowed. If fire danger is Extreme, no fires are allowed at all.

Before you burn, call the Air Shed Hotline for air restriction based on smoke impacts to air quality at 800-225-6779 or online at smokemu.org. Airshed 2 is north and northwest of Superior, and Airshed 3A is south and southeast of Superior. If there are restrictions, then you cannot burn. Also, check the weather forecast at 329-4840, or 721-3939, or online at wrh.noaa.gov.

Have hand tools and water available and notify your neighbors of your plans to burn and don’t burn alone, have help. Alternatives to burning include making a compost pile out of small organic materials. Using thinning and logging debris for firewood or till vegetable waste materials into the soil. Another alternative is to chip logging debris and slash or cut up thinning and logging slash so it contacts the soil surface for decomposition.

There are two types of debris, one is agricultural from farming, ranching and gardening. The other is natural debris from management activities like land-clearing or timber harvesting or natural accumulations of needles, grass, leaves, shrubs, etc. Also, burn barrels are allowed during open burning with a permit and are not considered to be recreational fires.

Items that cannot be burned include treated or painted wood or lumber, tar paper, tires, insulated wire, oil products, Styrofoam, plastics, food waste, animal parts or waste, hazardous waste, business waste, any manmade material and house hold garbage.

Keep in mind that you are liable for any and all suppression costs if your fire escapes your control. Fires must be attended to until there is no longer any smoke. Some helpful tips include keeping piles free of dirt and use brush blades on dozers when piling slash or using an excavator. It is recommended to burn dozer piles in the fall.

Build debris piles in cleared openings away from structures, overhead branches and power lines. By covering piles with plastic or waterproof paper, piles then can be burned when adjacent fuels are too wet to burn and control is not a problem. Keep plenty of water, people, tools and equipment ready in case of an unexpected change in the fires behavior. Also, never cover debris with dirt because fire can creep around the duff layer or underground and sometimes for several months. It can come “alive” again later with hot, dry, windy conditions.

Feel the area with your bare hands for warm spots. Spray the area with water, and watch for steam during the morning hours. With hot spots, spread the material out and mix it with water. Always use caution with fire and do not burn when high or erratic winds are forecast or dry conditions prevail. As fire danger rises, the permit period can be limited or issuance stopped completely. Wildland fire prevention inspections are available to help residents reduce fire hazards endangering their property. Call the Superior Ranger District to schedule an inspection.

With campfires, burn permits are not required. Campfires are defined as fire set for cooking, warming or ceremonial purposes. They should not be more than three feet in diameter or high; or a barbecue in a noncombustible container. Always have one shovel and water available.