THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, March 27, 1995 TAG: 9503270102
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROANOKE ISLAND LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
Where there's smoke, there's fire. And in the early days of spring, many fires are purposefully set by property owners burning debris from yard maintenance or spring cleaning.
Two controlled burns that got out of hand earlier this week in Wanchese illustrate the dangers of burning trash, limbs or leaves without taking basic precautions.
``People have always loved burning things,'' Dare County Fire Marshal Doug Remaley said Friday. ``It's been that way since the time of the cave man. But in the 1970s, with the passage of the Clean Air Act, governments got real concerned about any kind of material going into the air.''
North Carolina's 1991 controlled burning statute makes it a misdemeanor to perform a controlled burn without a permit. It is illegal to burn debris within 50 feet of a home or dwelling, and within 1,000 feet of a wooded area.
Last Wednesday, a yard debris fire at the Roanoke Island home of Harry Nizer blazed out of control, damaging several hundred acres of marsh land. Thursday, firefighters were called to Davis Boatworks in Wanchese after nearby residents complained about a controlled burn there.
Nizer said he was unaware of the permit requirement. Boatworks officials had obtained permission to do the burn. But billowing black smoke angered neighbors, Remaley said.
``In the county, we don't charge a fee for a permit,'' said Remaley. ``All they have to do is notify us, or their local fire department, and we'll issue a permit if conditions are favorable.''
Remaley said that if winds are blowing 10 mph or higher, no one should burn debris.
In Kill Devil Hills, Fire Chief Doug Penland said there is a $5 fee for a permit, which is good for three days. The local ordinance also limits materials to be burned to grass clippings or small limbs.
Nags Head Fire Lt. Jim Norrell said there is no fee for a permit in his beach town. Fire department personnel will inspect a controlled burn site prior to starting the blaze.
Failure to obtain a permit can result in a wide range of penalties, including fines of up to $500.
``We try to use a lot of discretion,'' said Penland. ``If we find out that folks aren't aware of the permit requirement, and are very cooperative, we generally will make them aware of the law, and give them a warning. It depends on the circumstances.''
Firefighters offered a list of important safety tips for people planning controlled burns on their property:
Monitor wind and soil conditions. Several days without rain combined with high winds make it especially dangerous to burn. The state Forest Service offers daily updates on burn conditions.
Keep burning materials at least 50 feet away from homes and businesses. Also be sensitive to how smoke may affect neighbors.
Keep a source of water such as a garden hose nearby.
Keep paints, fuels, and other chemical-based products a safe distance from the blaze.
For more information on controlled burning, contact the Dare County Fire Marshal's Office at (919) 473-1101, Ext. 262, or your local fire department. by CNB