THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, April 25, 1995 TAG: 9504250280
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
A burning ban for eastern North Carolina was lifted Monday, legalizing controlled outdoor fires where permitted.
The North Carolina Forest Service lifted the ban in nine western counties Friday and released the other 91 counties at noon Monday after weekend rains fell throughout much of the state.
The burning ban, imposed April 4, was the first to be issued statewide in a decade.
``We want to stress that if our typical spring-like conditions come back, we may have to impose a ban again,'' said Lisa Schell, a spokeswoman with the state forest agency.
Unlike the western part of the United States, the forest fire season typically heats up during the early spring in the Southeastern states, said Schell, a fire prevention specialist.
Trees and other vegetation still without foliage can quickly soak up what little moisture is in the ground. High winds, warmer temperatures and the sun's rays can quickly fuel a small blaze.
Since the ban was imposed, North Carolina forest firefighters responded to more than 1,000 fires that consumed about 5,000 acres.
By contrast, last year's spring blaze at Croatan National Forest destroyed more than 24,000 acres.
A number of citations and warnings were issued to violators of the ban, Schell said, but most people across the state heeded the ban.
``Easter weekend had the potential to be a bad weekend firewise, and we had few fires. A lot of people like to cook outdoors that weekend,'' she said. ``It could have been a lot worse, and I think that is a credit to all the people paying attention to that ban.''
Most of the fires during the 20-day ban were started by trash burners. A few also were ignited by arsonists and children playing with matches and lighters, Schell said. ILLUSTRATION: DID BAN HELP?
Forest firefighters responded to more than 1,000 blazes that
consumed about 5,000 acres since the ban was imposed April 4.
The majority of the forest fires during the 20-day ban were
started by trash burners.
KEYWORDS: FIRES by CNB