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Leaders advise against outdoor burns. If the weekend yields no rain, they will move toward a complete ban.
By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 16, 2002
BROOKSVILLE -- Fire departments are recommending against outdoor trash burning, and the state Division of Forestry has stopped issuing burn authorizations, as Hernando County returns to the tinderbox conditions it experienced a summer ago.
"It's as dry as gunpowder out there, and it's dangerous to burn, especially now that we're getting winds," said Danny Roberts, operations chief of the Hernando County Fire Rescue District.
Humidity was so low Wednesday that the National Weather Service placed a red flag warning for high fire danger on Hernando, Citrus, Sumter and Levy counties. Hernando's latest available average Keetch-Byram drought index was 629 on a scale where 800 indicates extreme drought.
A week ago, the average was 573.
Conditions do not appear likely to improve, despite a Wednesday morning cool front that increased the chance for rain to the south and east, National Weather Service forecaster Karl Loeper said.
"Pasco, Hernando, up to Citrus, it's going to stay pretty dry over the weekend," Loeper said.
If no rains come and the humidity remains low, county fire rescue Chief Mike Nickerson told commissioners this week he would recommend a complete outdoor burning ban by Tuesday.
Brooksville fire Chief Jim Daugherty said he agreed with Nickerson's recommendation.
"The grass is dying from the lack of water. . . . The water holes are dry. There's just a lack of rain," Daugherty said. "We can't wait until it's too late to make a decision."
Spring Hill fire rescue Chief J.J. Morrison could not be reached for comment.
Commissioners said they would follow Nickerson's lead, too. Chairwoman Nancy Robinson was ready to take the matter a step further.
"I also have asked him to look at firecrackers," Robinson said, noting that some people celebrate Memorial Day with fireworks. "We need to include that in our thinking process when it comes to fire hazards."
The commission is scheduled to discuss Nickerson's recommendations next week.
Senior County Attorney Bill Buztrey said the commission can implement a ban easily, with a resolution. It does not need to have public hearings first.
"Sometimes you need to act very quickly," Buztrey said. "Mike is monitoring (the weather) very closely. If we can get some rain, we'd rather not implement the ban."
Hernando County has had 16 brush fires this year. Roberts said all parts of the county are susceptible to a fire burning out of control.
Last year, the county had a burning ban in place for all but three weeks. Fireworks were banned for two weeks.
Safety rules for outdoor burning include:
Put all debris in a pit or barrel and cover it with wire mesh.
Have proper tools available to douse the fire, such as a hoe, rake and hose.
Conduct the burn 50 feet from one's own home and 100 feet from other structures and the street.
-- Jeffrey S. Solochek covers Hernando County government and can be reached at 754-6115. Send e-mail to solochek@sptimes.com.