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Local News |
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Burning ban issued in Lincoln County From staff reports Oct. 29 - Don’t even think of burning those autumn leaves. A complete open burning ban, effective this morning, has been issued in Lincoln County. “It’s basically no open flames outdoors at all,” said Lincoln County Fire Marshall Mike Futrell. Open burning is never permitted within Lincolnton city limits. An extended drought which has dried out all fire fuels — leaves, grass, pine needles — is getting the blame, said Travis Shidal, assistant county ranger with the Lincoln office of the N.C. Forest Service. “October’s been dry and it doesn’t look like there is rain for the next seven days in the forecast,” Shidal said. Lincoln County firefighters have battled 66 fires this year — the largest a seven-acre blaze earlier this month off of N.C. 73. The leading cause has been the burning of debris. An open burning ban, forbidding fires started within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling, went into effect at 8 a.m. today for all of the state’s 100 counties by the authority of Stanford Adams, director of the N.C. Forest Service. Lincoln County amended the state ban to include a ban on open burning within the 100 foot line also, said Futrell. The ban will be in effect until “we get some rain,” he said. Last year an open burning ban was issued from Nov. 1 to Nov. 9 in Lincoln County. Both the fire marshall’s office and the Forest Service will issue citations to persons who violate the ban. The complete open burning ban is aimed at avoiding the large wild fires now blazing in eastern and western North Carolina, said Shidal. And as for burning those leaves? “Just hold off ,” he said. The ban “won’t last forever.” ————— If you have questions concerning the open burning ban, contact the N.C. Forest Service at 704-736-8490 or the Lincoln County Fire Marshall’s office at 704-736-8516.
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© 2001 Lincoln Times-News |
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