Even when there is no burn ban, there are some reasonable precautions anyone conducting an outdoor burn should consider.

Here are some questions you might ask yourself before starting an outdoor burn:

1.  Do I need assistance in doing this burn?  Who could help me? 

The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service and Texas Parks and Wildlife are agencies trained to assist landowners with prescribed burn plans and with the Prescribed Burning.  You could also hire a licensed Prescribed Fire Burn Manager.   Information can be obtained from the local USDA-NRCS office to assist you with developing a prescribed burn plan and information to help you safely conduct your burn.

2.   What general precautions do I need to take before conducting an outdoor burn?

                a.  Always have a Plan for your burn.

                b.  Always contact your local fire department and 911 responder to let them know where and when you are going to conduct the burn.

                c.  Look around, note any sensitive areas (houses, barns, animals, roads).  Stay 300 feet away from these areas. 

                d.  Be aware of the present and future weather conditions.  Check with the National Weather Service for weather conditions (weather.gov).  Insert the name of your city and go to the section called hourly graph. 

NOTE: here are the major things you need to be aware of:

Relative Humidity -  If I had to pick one key element to pay attention to, relative humidity would be it.  Relative humidity is a measurement of how much moisture is in the air and also plants and leaves that you are interested in burning.   This moisture in the air helps extinguish fire brands or sparks.   Never burn when relative humidity's are less than 20 percent.   For brush piles, I would want greater than 50 percent relative humidity.  For Prescribed Burns on grassland, I wait for a relative humidity of 35 per cent or more.   Take extra precaution when burning cedar or other highly flammable vegetation.  Relative humidity is generally higher in the morning and drops throughout the day and goes back up again at night.

Wind Speed and Direction - Never burn when wind speeds are greater than 20 mph.  Ideal wind speeds for grassland burns are between 8 and 15 mph.  Wind speeds less than 5 mph are dangerous in a grassland burn  because the fire can generate its own winds and move in any direction. Calm winds (<10 mph) are recommended for burning brush piles.   Always check for changes in wind direction for up to two days following the burn.   In Texas we can get a strong "Norther"  that will reverse the wind direction and drop the humidity in just a few hours.

Air Temperature - Never burn when the air temperature is greater than 80 degrees F.  The higher the temperature the closer you are to ignition of fine fuels and trees.

3.  How do I prepare for the Prescribed Burn?

                a.   Mineral guards (soil with all vegetation removed or buried by dozing, plowing or blading) should be in place prior to the burn.  They should encompass the area that is being considered for burning.

                b.  Equipment - proper lighting equipment such as drip torches should be in good working condition and fuel on hand to conduct the burn.  Rakes, shovels, wire cutters,  and most especially water need to be on-site.  Water hose, Backpack sprayers, 4-wheelers with water tanks, livestock sprayers and possibly a fire truck can be valuable tools of prevention in case a fire moves out of your control area.  Clothing should be cotton or leather.  No plastic jackets or polyester clothing as these melt.  Leather boots and heavy soles are the best foot wear.  Cell phones should be carried by all people helping with the burn.  Already have the 911 responder number in your phone prior to starting the burn.

                c. Personnel - never do a burn by yourself. 

4.  What do I do when the burn is completed? 

                 Mop-up - This is a term used to observe the burned area and extinguish any smoldering materials or small fires.   NEVER leave the area until the fire is extinguished, so start early.

5.  What other Safety considerations should I consider when doing a prescribed burn?

                a.  Stop all fire ignition by 5:00pm.  As night approaches, the air cools and smoke stops rising.  It will settle in low areas and may potentially cause health problems for your neighbors and roadways.  On the other hand, start burning in the morning when the air is heating  and rising.  Therefore, smoke with go up.  Do not burn in cloudy conditions as this will also prevent smoke from rising.

                b.  If smoke is going to cross a public road, it is your responsibility to have flagmen or authorities to control traffic at those points.

                c.  Have someone responsible for monitoring weather conditions every 30 minutes until the fire is extinguished.

Prescribed burning is a very effective tool for improving grassland productivity and overall health of the landscape.  Just take precautions when doing it.

Much more information is available on this subject.  Please contact the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service office at 2504 North Center Street in Bonham, TX or call 903-583-9513 x3 for further information or a copy of the "PRESCRIBED BURNING FOR LANDOWNERS" brochure.