Date: April 20, 2009 Contact: Heather O’Hanlon (406) 896-2836
Ann Boucher (406) 896-5011 Think Before You Burn Agricultural or
debris burning is part of life when you live in rural
communities of eastern Montana. For farmers and ranchers,
burning often takes place during spring months. Cleaning up
ditches, eliminating yard waste, or burning off weeds are just a
few reasons why ranchers and farmers use fire on the land.
However, one escape of a burn can be costly and have serious
ramifications. If a burn project impacts land that belongs to
another private landowner or to a public land management agency,
it can result in loss of grazing acres, loss of crop or animals,
degradation of soil, invasion of weeds, erosion and run-off
problems, and loss of income. In some cases, the person who
started the escaped fire can be held responsible for the cost of
suppressing the fire, monetary losses to neighboring landowners,
and land rehabilitation costs. Before burning, call your local
fire chief, fire warden or sheriff