Commissioners hold firm on fire restrictions

The county commissioners passed a motion last week to state that they will be supporting any decisions made by Fire Warden Doug Leis to enforce the fire restrictions now in place across the county.

The commissioners made the decision after Leis reported getting requests for burn permits, despite the restrictions – something he is reluctant to grant under the circumstances. The commissioners had also heard from county residents on the matter.

Leis explained his reluctance as unwillingness to set a precedence.

“If we start issuing these permits, how do we stop doing it?” he asked. If an exception is granted to one person, others will want a burn permit too and eventually there will have been little point to having issued the restrictions.

“That’s why I just say we’re not going to do it. It’s just easier to stand on both legs,” he said.

The burn restrictions went into effect on April 2. According to Leis, at least two tickets had already been written within the first four days, and “there’s going to be more.”

This is concerning due to the high fire risk, he said.

“We’re this close to extreme drought conditions,” Leis told the commission, later noting that the winter has done very little to mitigate the potential for a severe fire season this year.

“We’ve had fires all winter. They have not stopped,” he said.

Leis imposed partial open burning restrictions on the basis that situations may occur this year that would over-extend Crook County’s fire-fighting capability. The discharge of fireworks, the use of exploding target devises and all outdoor fires are currently prohibited, except certain exceptions.

Trash fires may take place between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. inside containers provided with spark arrestors and within a cleared area of ten feet in radius.

Campfires are permitted within established fire rings at established campgrounds, and charcoal fires are allowed within enclosed grills. Acetylene cutting torches and electric arc welders and propane or open fire branding activities all require cleared areas ten feet in radius.