Temporary burn ban issued

MAT-SU — An area-wide burn ban has been put in effect for Tuesday, July 3 in the entirety of the Mat-Su.

Dry conditions prompted Alaska Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Andrew Mack to issue a press release banning burn permits in the Valley for July 3.

“Open debris burning, the use of burn barrels, and burning of lawns is prohibited until conditions moderate,” wrote Mack.

Small campfires are still allowed if they are less than three feet in diameter, but the release stresses that if you are to have a campfire, dig down to the soil around the fire and have water on hand. Use of fireworks is also not advisable.

“State statutes prohibit lighting forested lands, public or private, on fire with any sort of ignition device. Individuals can be held criminally liable and responsible for up to 2 times the cost of suppression,” wrote Mack.

The suspension is only for Tuesday, and the call for a suspension on July 4 will be made on July 4. Rain is not expected until Thursday, and July 3 and 4 will be competing for the warmest day of the year.

“If you light forested lands on fire you’re going to be held responsible no matter how it happened,” said Division of Forestry Public Information Officer Sam Harrell.

Sale and use of fireworks has also been suspended in Houston. There are no active forest fires in the Mat-Su Valley according to Harrell, but a few grass fires have gotten out of control. Harrell describes that as nothing out of the ordinary, but says that cause for concern over fire danger at this time of the year is unusually high.

“It is a little dryer right now over the 4th than it has been past couple summers,” said Harrell.