Preventing Wildfires

Statewide burn ban begins in March

Though the ground is still wet with snowmelt and spring has hardly made itself known, March is the beginning of wildfire season in Ohio.

According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the risk of wildfires increases in March, April and May, before plants can sprout new growth and when windy conditions are more common. State law prohibits open burns in unincorporated areas between 6 a.m.-6 p.m. March-May, October and November.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency considers an open burn any outdoor fire set without a chimney or stack. Westerville’s definition of open burning includes fires in metal cans, barrels, containers, wire baskets or homemade devices. State and local regulations, such as the annual burn ban, are in place to help prevent the potential for dangerous and uncontrollable fires.

Much of the world watched this winter as wildfires ravaged more than 40,000 acres in southern California, including densely populated areas of Los Angeles and its surrounding suburbs, causing catastrophic damage. While the exact cause of the fires remains under investigation, the area impacted is in a severe drought.

As recently as January, 6% of Ohio was considered to be in a drought and another 20% in abnormally dry conditions.

Drought conditions can dry out vegetation like grass, trees and bushes, effectively making them kindling if ignited. Once ignited, a wildfire can travel a little over 14 mph.

According to the Ohio Emergency Management Agency, 450 wildfires burn through 1,500 acres within the ODNR Division of Forestry’s 200,000acre wildfire protection area each year. While there are some unpredictable causes of wildfires like lightning strikes, human prevention is key to minimizing risk. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, around 88% of all U.S. wildfires were started by people, whether intentionally or by negligence, between 2013 and 2023.

In Westerville, open fires are permitted for cooking food and contained fires are permitted for the warmth of outdoor workers, but a permit is required. Open fires for ceremonial purposes are also allowed with an appropriate permit.

If you have questions about open fires, call the Westerville Division of Fire at (614) 9016600. For more fire safety information, visit www.Westerville.org/Fire

Do Not Burn

• Household waste (including plastic garbage bags)

• Paper plates

• Plasticware

• Rubber

• Grease

• Asphalt

• Hazardous waste including liquid petroleum products

• Plastics

• Beverage containers

• Food

• Food preparation materials

• Structures

• Furniture or mattresses

• Construction or building materials

• Animal waste or carcasses

The Ohio EPA encourages residents to heed the following rules and advice to help reduce the risk of wildfires and the dangers thereof:

Preventing Wildfires

• Be aware of weather conditions.

• Remove dead vegetation and pine needles from the property (including rooftops, gutters, etc.) or rake to a minimum of 3-5 ft. from the home’s foundation.

• Remove debris and trash from your yard.

• Remove low-hanging tree limbs and dispose of trimmings appropriately.

• Never leave an outdoor fire unattended.

Factors That Contribute To Wildfires

The State of Ohio Enhanced Hazard Mitigation Plan notes the following factors impacting the size, scale, quantity and frequency of wildfires:

• Weather trends, including temperature, wind conditions, humidity and precipitation.

• Fire fuel conditions, including moisture content, availability, accumulation and arrangement.

• Ignition sources such as embers, debris from fires or arson.

SOURCE: National Fire Protection Association

The NRPAs Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is May 5. Learn more at www.NFPA.org.