Burn

Franklin County requires all citizens of Franklin County to obtain a burn permit prior to igniting a fire.

•Permits are available at the Public Works Office located in the Franklin County Annex at 1428 South Main, Ottawa. •

Burn permits cost $1.00 and are valid one calendar year.

•Persons must call dispatch at 785-242-3800 at least one hour prior to any open burn to make sure there has not been a burn ban issued for the day.

•Some conditions of permit include:

•No burning is permitted during the nighttime, which is defined as that period from two hours before sunset until one hour after sunrise. No material shall be added to a fire after two hours before sunset.

•No burning is permitted during periods when surface wind speed is less than five miles per hour or more than fifteen miles per hour.

•No burning is permitted within one thousand feet of an occupied dwelling, unless the occupant of that dwelling has been notified before the burn.

•No burning is permitted which creates traffic or other safety hazard. If a burn is to be conducted within one thousand feet of a state or federal highway, the person conducting the burn shall notify authorities of the fact when reporting the burn. If a burn is to be conducted within one mile of an airport, the person conducting the burn shall notify the airport authority prior to the burning begins.

•No person shall leave a fire unattended until appropriate precautions have been taken to prevent the fire from spreading.

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The Franklin County Conservation District has two Panama Drip Torches available, being demonstrated in the photo, for Franklin County landowners to borrow when conducting a controlled burn. Tank capacity is 1 3/8 gallons. Fuel mixture to be used is: 1 part gasoline to 4 parts diesel fuel or 1 Quart gasoline to 1 Gallon Diesel Fuel. Person borrowing the torch is fully liable for any damage resulting from the fire and cost of suppression, should the fire escape. Do not exceed fuels mixture. Be sure tank is clean and dry of any fuels before lighting torch. Tank must be returned free of all fuel mixture. Contact the Conservation District Office at 242-1109 ex 31 to inquire about borrowing the torches.

Demonstration burn conducted at Pomona Lake on April 2, 2007. The burn was conducted in cooperation with the Corps of Engineers at Pomona Lake; Osage, Franklin, Douglas and Shawnee County Conservation Districts; Osage, Franklin, Douglas and Shawnee County Extension Offices and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

A fire suppression certified employee demonstrates fire suppression along the edge of the burn area with a fire swatter or flapper.

The bright yellow fire retardant material of the employees jacket provides protection as well as makes the employee visible across the acreage while the employee continues to monitor the fire as the controlled burn extinguishes itself.

All photos are property of the Franklin County Conservation District and are not to be reproduced without written permission of the Franklin County Conservation District, Ottawa Ks.