Gonna burn? Get a permit

CASEY RESSLER

Frontiersman Valley Life Editor

When the Division of Forestry responds to a fire, officials have a good idea that the fire was caused by people doing things they probably shouldn't be doing.

Thomas Greiling, a prevention technician and fire investigator, said the overwhelming majority of fires Forestry officials respond to are "human controlled."

"I'd say 95 percent of the fires we respond to in the Mat-Su Valley are caused by humans, and the fires got away from them," Greiling said.

There are several reasons for that, and one of the biggest problems Greiling said his people see concerns the use of burn barrels.

"A lot of the fires have escaped from burn barrels, or people have put their burn barrels on dry, cured grass with no screen, and it takes off," Greiling said. "We need to stress that we are requiring burn permits for all burn barrels that aren't approved. We will fine people. We've already lost one home because of it."

Greiling said keeping your house safe from wildfire is as easy as doing a little yardwork.

"A big thing people can do is to keep clearance around your house. Make sure the cured grass is mowed down short. Haul in some gravel for the perimeter. You have to watch the surface fuels," Greiling said.

"Another big thing is yard accumulation. People are keeping firewood too close to their home," Greiling said.

If you are going to burn, Greiling said to make sure you have a permit.

"The permits really keep a lot of people out of trouble," he said. "There are phone numbers on for weather reports, and a lot of information that if people use it, they won't put their property in jeopardy."

Nine years ago, the Valley's most devastating wildfire tore through the Houston and Big Lake areas.

The Millers Reach Fire brought things like defensible space into everyone's conversations in the months that followed.

"But not enough people actually have that safe clearance around their homes," Greiling said.

To get a burn permit, interested people should call the Division of Forestry at 761-6338.