St. Johns County burn ban extended through summer, will affect July 4

[FayeforCure]

St. Johns County burn ban extended through summer, will affect July 4


Posted: June 7, 2011 - 3:00pmPhotos
 
PETER WILLOTT/St. Augustine Record
Smoke from a wildfire blows across U.S. 1, south of State Road 206 on March 1 after a fire destroyed more than 1,300 acres and forced the closing of Interstate 95 and U.S. 1 Sign up for afternoon top stories

     
 
 By Dan Scanlan Copyright 2011 .
June 7, 2011 - 03:00pm
St. Johns County burn ban extended through summer, will affect July 4

The worsening drought and wind conditions and the wildfires that continue to smolder have prompted St. Johns County to extend its burn ban 90 days.

The ban includes prohibiting the private use of any fireworks. Only public fireworks displays permitted by the fire marshal for the upcoming July 4 holiday will be allowed.

The burn ban pertains to residential outdoor burning of leaves or yard debris, fireworks of any kind, campfires, flares or other outdoor burning. Only campfires within a metal ring in a state park or licensed campground are allowed, as are a home barbecue grill or similar device for cooking.

The lack of substantial rainfall and high temperatures have led to a drought index of 682 on a scale of 0 to 800. Weather conditions are not expected to improve in the near future, so county fire officials say the danger is extreme.

County fire officials and the state Division of Forestry also are monitoring numerous fires in St. Johns County that are all contained, but residents should expect smoky conditions throughout the county, usually worse in the morning hours until sea breeze increase.



Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/florida/2011-06-07/story/st-johns-county-burn-ban-extended-through-summer-will-affect-july-4#ixzz1PvYVgyyW

Yard debris burning in residential areas should be banned once and for all. We have curb-side pick-up, and to burn yard debris is a nuisance to the neighbors ( we are clearly all annoyed with the smokey air out there now!), and a health hazard to those with asthma, and the young and elderly!!

How much longer are the St Johns county commissioners going to allow yard debris burning in residential areas.

It has already been fully banned in 24 states!!!

[Shwaz]

I've got $20 that says Duval county will issue the same ban just before July 4th... 

[Doctor_K]

I agree 100%, Faye.  Leaf burning is something that's just not needed.  It should indeed be properly legislated. 

I had to stop and ask myself, of all the suburban and exurban and rural places I've lived, I've never known any neighbor of mine to burn leaves.  As Stephen Dare likes to say "What a bizarre" thing to do.

Bag 'em up for collection, or compost them.  Burning them is just silly.

As for the burn ban, if banning personal/retail fireworks saves firefighters from yet another forest fire call, and potentially saves a life or four, then so be it.

[FayeforCure]

I agree 100%, Faye.  Leaf burning is something that's just not needed.  It should indeed be properly legislated. 

I had to stop and ask myself, of all the suburban and exurban and rural places I've lived, I've never known any neighbor of mine to burn leaves.  As Stephen Dare likes to say "What a bizarre" thing to do.

Bag 'em up for collection, or compost them.  Burning them is just silly.

As for the burn ban, if banning personal/retail fireworks saves firefighters from yet another forest fire call, and potentially saves a life or four, then so be it.

Doctor_K, thank you! My family and I have been exposed to a neigbor's leaf burning twice a month for 9 years now. I have politely asked for them to not do it anymore because my daughter has asthma, and the leaf burning generally lasts 7-8 hours a day making that entire day a misery for my daughter. The smoke even enters my house.

The St Johns county commissioners so far have been unwilling to help, and the Fire Department and Forestry Department give me nonsensical garb about them asking my neighbor only to burn when the wind isn't going in my house's direction.

Do they really think that wind keeps blowing in just one direction for the entire duration of the burn?

[FayeforCure]

Fire season one of worst in 31 years


'Lots of rain' needed to snuff out Expanola fire

Posted: June 22, 2011 - 10:45pm


By From Staff

This year's forest fire season is the 11th worst on record in the last 31 years, according to the state Division of Forestry.
 
There are 380 fires throughout the state, with the biggest close to St. Johns County being the Espanola fire in Flagler County. Todd Schroeder with the Division of Forestry said the fires combined have burned 114,420 acres.
 
The Espanola fire has burned 5,136 acres and has containment lines around 55 percent of it. That fire, along with fires in Georgia, is a principal cause of the smoke over St. Johns and Flagler counties.
 
"For a fire that burns above the ground as well as deep into the dry organic matter beneath the surface, it will take rain and lots of it to snuff it out," a Forestry Service spokesman said in a prepared statement.
 
The National Guard helicopters were called in Wednesday to cool off the fire and prevent it from making a run at the lines.
 
The chances for rain increases over the next few days. Today there is a 40 percent chance of rain, 60 percent on Friday, 60 percent of Saturday and 40 percent on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures are expected to reach highs of about 90 degrees each day through Sunday.

http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2011-06-22/fire-season-one-worst-31-years

[FayeforCure]

Yay, my letter to the editor was published!

County should permanently ban yard trash burning


Posted: June 22, 2011 - 6:28pm


By FAYE ARMITAGE

 Fruit Cove

Editor: For almost a year now, the St. Johns County burn ban has been extended, lifted, and recently extended again through summer.
 
The county's burn ban "pertains to residential outdoor burning of leaves or yard debris, fireworks of any kind, campfires, flares or other outdoor burning. Only campfires within a metal ring in a state park or licensed campground are allowed, as are a home barbecue grill or similar device for cooking."
 
Yard debris burning in residential areas should be banned once and for all. We have curb-side pick-up, and to burn yard debris is a nuisance to the neighbors and a health hazard to those with asthma, and the young and elderly. We are clearly all annoyed with the smoky air out there now.
 
How much longer are the St. Johns County Commissioners going to allow yard debris burning in residential areas? It has already been fully banned in 24 states!

http://staugustine.com/opinions/2011-06-22/letter-county-should-permanently-ban-yard-trash-burning