The annual burn ban enforced in Grant County in 2017 is drastically reducing fires according to local fire chiefs. Two years ago, Grant County Commissioners passed a resolution that activated the ban in response to the very high volume of fires burning in the area. The ordinance places an automatic restriction on outdoor burning from June 1st to September 30th each year within the unincorporated areas of the county. Grant County Fire District 7 Chief Kirk Sheppard says the annual ban has resulted in 65% drop in fire calls. Sheppard says its been huge for his jurisdiction.
"What happens is during the summer months, when you burn and the fire gets out of control, you're destroying people's lives, their crops, their personal properties. We've lost homes in the county, we've lost fire trucks in the county. This may have all been prevented had we had this burn ban in place," Sheppard told iFIBER ONE News.