We are at the point in the year where more and more people will start doing large-scale burns throughout rural parts of the state.
With that mind, the Jasper County Fire Chief’s Association has some reminders for rural county residents to keep in mind. When doing a large-scale burn, the Association recommends notifying the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center first. What is a large-scale burn? If you are burning something and it is producing a large amount of smoke that may draw attention from people driving by – call it in. If you are burning something and it is hidden from view and could look like it is a building on fire – call it in. If you are burning off a field and someone could think it is an out of control grass fire – call it in. The basic idea is – if it is a big fire – please call it in prior to lighting.
Residents choosing to burn brush piles, especially larger piles of debris, or any tall grasses that have to be burnt for management purposes, are requested to contact the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center. Tell the dispatcher who you are, what is being burned, where the burn will take place, and when the burn will happen.
By notifying the dispatch center before a controlled burn happens, it will save them from having to page out fire personnel and law enforcement. When there is no record of any controlled burns, emergency resources have to respond as if it were an actual emergency. Please consider the responders safety and the time taken away from their families and work. It only takes a few minutes to call and let the dispatch center know what is happening and that notice may keep our responders from risking their lives when it is not an emergency.
The non-emergency number to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center is (641) 792-5912.
Original source can be found here.
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