By Charlotte Smith
Photos by Jerry Elks
A controlled burn turned into a structure fire yesterday afternoon at the 1200 block of Pleasant Grove Church Road. Kenneth Clark, Bladen County Fire Marshal confirmed the fire was a controlled burn that got out of hand due to the wind.
Clark said the home owner was burning trash and reported the wind led the fire onto the grass and then to the sturcture. No injuries were reported.
According to the report, the structure was a detached out building, that spread to the woods behind the property. The responding units to the scene were Dublin Fire Department, Elizabethtown Fire Department, Bladenboro Fire Department, Bladen County EMS, and Bladen County Sheriff’s Office.
Clark also said the fire had nothing to do with the fires in Dublin that are still under investigation. Clark reported the homeowner saying they thought the grass around the fire was wet enough to keep the fire controlled.
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Photos by Jerry Elks
Smokey the Bear gives the following tips on how to control a back yard burn.
- Check the conditions. Don’t burn when it’s windy or when vegetation is very dry.
- Check local regulations. In your area, a permit may be required.
- Burn this, not that. You can burn dry, natural vegetation, grown on the property, unless prohibited by local ordinances. Household trash, plastic or tires are not good to burn and are illegal to burn in some areas. Check your local ordinances.
- Look up. Choose a safe burning site away from power lines, overhanging limbs, buildings, vehicles, and equipment. You’ll need at least three times the height of the pile of vertical clearance.
- Look around. The site should be surrounded by gravel or mineral soil (dirt) at least 10 feet in all directions. Keep the surroundings watered down during the burn and have a shovel close by.
- Prepare your pile. Keep your piles small and manageable. Add additional debris as the fire burns down. If using a burn barrel, make sure it’s made entirely of metal, properly equipped (at least three evenly-spaced, three-inch, screened vents and metal top screen) and in good condition.
- Make sure the fire is completely out. Whether it’s a requirement in your area or not, always stay with your fire until it is completely out. Drown the fire with water, turn over the ashes with a shovel and drown it again. Repeat several times.
- Keep an eye on the fire. Check the burn area regularly over the next several days and up to several weeks following the burn, especially if the weather is warm, dry, and windy.
- Remember the wildlife. If you live in a wildland-urban interface (where homes meet wildlands), create a 30-foot zone of fire-resistant space around your home and consider using fire-resistant plants and landscaping.
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