Several brush fires noted this weekend

This past weekend was a busy one for Jackson County’s fire departments, with county dispatchers noting that between Friday and Sunday, firefighters were sent to a total of 26 brush and grass fires that got out of control.

It’s not quite a record for the county, but it does serve as a warning to farmers, ranchers and other rural folks who seek to conduct controlled pasture and brush burns, as well as other types of burning activities. Such activities in Jackson County require an open burning permit, it was reported.

Burn permits are free and available at any Jackson County fire department. However, the Holton Fire Department is the only department that is open 24 hours a day, every day of the week, it was reported. 

As long as your phone number does not change from year to year, residents will not need to apply for a new permit, it was reported.

If burning is permitted for the day, the name of the permit holder, the location of the burn and the materials being burned are kept in a log at the Holton Fire Department.

County residents are also encouraged to contact their neighbors before and after they burn so the neighbors don’t make a false report about an uncontrolled fire to the department. 

Burning without a permit, or on a day when burning is banned, can result in a fine. For more information, call the Holton Fire Department at 364-3123.