Burn Permits

Level 2 - Moderate Risk: "Conditions are suitable for burns but please use caution due to dry conditions."

This means that there is some risk of damage due to fires, especially due to carelessness. Pay attention to your environment and monitor your burn—grass may catch fire and spread, winds may pick up embers, and ash may stay warm for hours and possibly reignite.  

Level 3 - High Risk: "High risk for burning, use caution due to dry conditions. Have extinguishing agents readily available."

This means that fires may quickly spread unintentionally due to dry conditions. Those burning should have extinguishing agents (buckets of water, sand, fire extinguishers, etc.) ready in case the fire spreads.

Level 4 - Extreme Risk: "Only supervised campfires. Have extinguishing agents readily available."

This means the risk of a burn becoming incontrollable is too great to allow for fires other than small recreational fires. No burn barrels or brush fires, or the burning of yard waste. Prolonged and/or forecasted dry conditions have turned most of the environment highly flammable. The fire department risks thinning out their resources if they are tied up responding to multiple fires.  

Level 5 - Total Burn Ban: "No burning no matter what due to dry and dangerous conditions."

At this point, any fire is far too great of a risk. Water availability may be low. The fire department is on high alert to ensure fires are controlled quickly. The occasional rain may not be enough to restore the environment from its dry conditions.