4/8/14 - The ground may be muddy from rain this week, but the Hartland Deerfield Fire Authority has instituted a ban on open burning starting today. Typically, residents can burn vegetation, untreated wood, paper, and cardboard. Fire Marshal Michael Bernardin says despite the wet weather, there is still a good chance for fires to catch and spread. He says the ground still has not thawed out after this winterâs deep freeze, so plants have remained brown and dormant. This means they cannot absorb moisture from the rain and remain susceptible to fire. Combined with other factors like low humidity and high winds, Bernardin calls the current conditions a ârecipe for disasterâ when it comes to open burning. He expects the ban to remain in place until vegetation starts to green up, which could take two weeks or more. (TD)
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