Fire chief stresses burn ban after brush fire spreads to 5 acres in Augusta Township
Augusta Township fire Chief Vic Chevrette is stressing the ban on open burning after a brush fire spread across nearly five acres on the 8000 block of Lawrence Avenue in Augusta Township on Thursday afternoon.
Several fire departments in Washtenaw County have issued burn bans in recent weeks because of extremely dry conditions.
"It’s just very dry out there and until we get a rain or something, there is a ban on open burning,” said Chevrette. “That goes for campfires and everything, and we’re asking people to exercise caution when lighting off fireworks because you’re responsible for that fire if it starts.
“It’s just with the lack of rainfall, everything is so dry.”
The Augusta Charter Township Fire Department received a call from a resident who saw a fire in the woods behind the subdivision between Lawrence Avenue and Stoney Creek Road on Thursday, just after noon. Saline, Milan, Pittsfield and Ypsilanti Township fire departments assisted on the scene, mainly because of the amount of wildlife in the area.
“It’s just very think brush. A lot of trees and thick forest…it’s wild land,” Chevrette said.
Chevrette said approximately five acres of brush burned in the fire, but there was no damage to property or injuries reported. The fire was extinguished by 1:15 p.m. The cause of the fire is still unknown and is being investigated by Michigan State Police.
Contact Pete Cunningham at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.
Comments
swcornell
Mon, Jul 16, 2012 : 5:31 a.m.
This should also include the banning of smoking tobacco products outdoors. I saw some nut through a burning cigarette out his car window yesterday!
Ann English
Sat, Jul 14, 2012 : 11:31 p.m.
Let's see if the Art Fairs bring rain, not just downtown, but in these areas where houses are far apart.
jcj
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 8:20 p.m.
Anyone that needs an official burn ban should not be allowed to play with matches!
J R
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 5:13 p.m.
Question: Is this the same as the No Fire Pits rule? You know the rule where Washtenaw County and Pittsfield Twp tell people that fire pits aren't allowed, but for "select" individuals fire pits are allowed and the inspectors just look the other way? The second question would be are those "select" individuals that Washtenaw County and Pittsfield Twp have decided to "look the other way" at when it comes to fire pits....can those fire pits be burned? I assume they can.
OLDTIMER3
Sat, Jul 14, 2012 : 12:35 p.m.
1st what do you mean by firepits? I would think it is self explanitory. NO OPEN FIRES, would mean no uncovered fires. I am not even sure I would even want to burn in one of those enclosed fire pits as dry as it is . I've seen pretty large sparks escaping from them.Some people just don't have any common sense.My wife one of them. I caught her just getting ready to light our trash barrel this morning.
dading dont delete me bro
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 5:11 p.m.
"Several fire departments in Washtenaw County have issued burn bans in recent weeks because of extremely dry conditions." could you post a list of said fire departments?
Pete Cunningham
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 5:32 p.m.
As stated in the article linked to above, there are open burn bans in Ann Arbor, Pittsfield, Ypsilanti and Northfield townships, Saline, Milan and the Dexter area. Any kind of open burning is always illegal in the cities of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti.
Tom Todd
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 4:28 p.m.
Anyone agree it's been hotter and dryer then the summer of 1988.
xmo
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 3:13 p.m.
I guess he is lucky that his helmet was not stolen during the fire! We need Smokey The Bear to remind people!