N.C. Forest Division District 3 patrol pilot Andrew Hillert, left, meets with Brian Yiech, center, southern pine beetle forester; and Jonathan Tyler, Montgomery Community College forestry co-op student; prior to a survey flight over Richmond County.
“Violations for burning illegal materials can result in fines up to $25,000 in North Carolina,” said Alan Clark, county forest ranger.
His office and local fire departments are continuing to extinguish such burnings.
“The basic message of the state open-burning rule is simple,” he said. “Only leaves, branches and other plant growth can be burning — nothing else.”
Clark said some people think it is OK if they burn trash and building materials in burn barrels because it had been done in the past. Even paper is not supposed to be burned.
While local forestry officials can make arrests, the N.C. Division of Air Quality officials can get involved also and make arrests. There have been several cases to reach local courts.
Clark said the laws are enforced to keep air clean in the county.
Recent air quality has been compromised somewhat by controlled burns in the county, which are necessary to reduce forest fuels which could trigger wildfires.
During 2008, the county forest ranger’s office responded to 117 fires which burned more than 237 acres.
The largest number of fires reported — 37 — were from deliberately set fires.
Second were 28 fires which originated from debris burning which got out of control.
Machine use created 16 fires followed by 12 fires from miscellaneous sources including structure fires escaping into woodlands.
Other sources of fires were: Smokers, 5; children, 7; railroad, 2; campfires, 1; and lightning, 9.
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Another function of the Forest Service in the county is the preparation of plans to manage forests.
Through the state program alone to assist in reforestation, there were 38 projects in which the service assisted.
With 42 new management plans, an additional 2,261 acres were placed under productive forest management in the county.
“The Forest Service conducted onsite survival checks on 22 tracts that had been planted during the winter of 2007 to 2008,” Clark said. “The checks are a free service to landowners to ensure that enough seedlings survive the first growing season for an adequately-stocked timber stand.”
In October 2008, the service presented a Wild Land Fire Suppression Simulator training class at the Rockingham Fire Department. Such classes have been presented to all fire departments in the county.
“Such classes are offered to help make fire suppression activities between the Division of Forest Resources and local fire departments more efficient,” Clark said. During February, a make-up class was held for new members in all departments.
Once again the local forestry staff placed first in their eight-county district in the collection of seeds for the state nurseries.
A total of 6,598 pounds of seed were collected.
n Contact reporter Tom MacCallum at 997-3111, ext. 15; e-mail tmaccallum@yourdailyjournal.com.
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