No kidding, it’s fire season

Despite looking out the window Thursday and seeing yet another snow storm, it is fire season in the Valley.

Actually, according to the Division of Forestry, fire season started April 1. It lasts until Aug. 31.

When you look around, all that matted grass is kindling. The debris blown into cracks and crevices from the big blow last winter is ready to ignite.

Despite some patches of snow still around, there have already been a couple of small brush fires reported and, if all holds true, more are on the way. This is a good time to check around your house and property for anything that could catch fire and clean it up.

It’s also time to get the gardening hoses out and check for leaks and get them attached to pipes. You may need water to keep the roof wet or douse a fire before it grows.

For those who want to burn debris or leaves, check with the local fire department or the Division of Forestry for permission to burn. Permits are required even for burn barrels.

There several ways to make your home and property less vulnerable. The Division of Forestry offers these:

• Remove or transplant more flammable vegetation within 30 feet of your home and replace it with low-growing, fire-resistant plants.

• Remove dead, weak or diseased trees, leaving a healthy mixture of older and younger trees.

• Work together with your neighbors to clear common areas between houses and prune areas of heavy vegetation.

• Remove dead tree limbs hanging over your roof and any limb within 10 feet of your chimney.

• Clean roofs, gutters and other areas around the house that collect leaves, needles and other woody debris.

• Burn barrels should be 30 feet from structures and cleared at least 10 feet in any direction. Cover with a metal screen.

• Keep firewood at least 30 feet from any structure and clear of vegetation within 10 feet.

• All-terrain-vehicles, snowmachines and other machinery should be parked away from your home.

• Keep any fuel storage containers at least 30 feet from a structure.

These are just a few of the precautions that can keep your property, and possibly you, from being burned in a wildland fire. For more information and tips, visit forestry.alaska.gov/fire and click on “Fire Home.” The Forestry number for specific questions or to obtain burn permit information is 761-6300. Of course, if fire creates an emergency, call 911. Don’t try to put it out yourself.