Fire officials rolling back burn bans

HILLSDALE COUNTY — Area fire departments are slowly starting to roll back bans on open burning ordered earlier this month.

Around the first of the month, fire departments throughout Hillsdale County began issuing advisories asking residents to avoid open burning of brush piles or large bonfires out of concerns stemming from the ongoing lack of precipitation and high temperatures.

A number of well-intentioned burns had gotten out of control and quickly spread over several acres which prompted their concerns.

Then, just a few short days into June, fire officials began banning burning outright and rescinded any and all burn permits.

Hudson Fire Chief Jerry Tanner has lifted the burn ban for his fire protection area including Pittsford Township but across the county, in Hillsdale Township, Fire Chief Mike Rose is cautiously monitoring weather patterns with more dry weather forecasted for next week.

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Rose said small, contained campfires are permissible and that anyone wishing to have a campfire should have a garden hose nearby in case the fire begins to get out of control.

In late May, an out-of-control fire burned dozens of acres in the Lost Nation State Game Area before firefighters were able to regain control; the fire smoldered for days before finally becoming fully extinguished.

Residents wanting to burn larger piles of brush should check in with their respective fire departments for advice and to see what local restrictions may or may not be in place.

— Contact Reporter Corey Murray at cmurray@hillsdale.net or follow him on Twitter: @cmurrayHDN.

This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Fire officials rolling back burn bans