From Stutsman County Emergency Manager, Jerry Bergquist

Stutsman Emergency Manager Jerry Bergquist

Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News)  —  On Tuesday,  September 4, 2012, at the request of all of the Fire Chiefs in Stutsman County, the Stutsman County Commission declared a Fire Emergency/Burn Ban Proclamation.
Although there has been no major outbreak of rural grass fires, the fire chiefs are concerned that conditions are worsening and the public needs to take precautions when doing any type of burning. 

 
The Declaration/Proclamation will be in effect until fire conditions have sufficiently improved. 

At a minimum, the document will be in effect until the next regular County Commission meeting scheduled for Tuesday, September 18th.   

Similar to the Declaration/Proclamation that was in effect earlier this Spring, the Burn Ban is in effect only when the North Dakota Rangeland Fire Danger Index is in the VERY HIGH or EXTREME categories and/or a Red Flag Warning has been issued for Stutsman County. 

The Fire Danger Index is determined by the National Weather Service on a
daily basis. 

A link to the daily Fire Danger Index page can be found on the Stutsman County website at www.stutsmancounty.org. 

Click on the flame icon.

FIRE EMERGENCY DECLARATION AND BURN BAN PROCLAMATION

FOR STUTSMAN COUNTY, NORTH DAKOTA 

September 4, 2012

  WHEREAS, Stutsman County is experiencing abnormally dry conditions coupled with significant fuel supplies resulting in an extreme fire potential; and

 WHEREAS, all available resources remain committed to the protection of life and property; and

WHEREAS, the existing conditions make fires a continuing threat to the health, safety, and well-being of the citizens of Stutsman County; and

 WHEREAS, the cost of emergency response and inordinate wear on fire-fighting equipment may be far in excess of available County resources;

   NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Stutsman County Commissioners declares a Fire Emergency for all of Stutsman County including all of its incorporated cities except for the City of Jamestown, North Dakota; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Commissioners proclaims that a Burn Ban is in effect when the North Dakota Rangeland Fire danger Index is in the VERY HIGH or EXTREME Index and/or a Red Flag Warning has been issued for Stutsman County.  The Burn Ban encompasses all open burning and includes all of the County’s incorporated cities except the City of Jamestown, North Dakota with the following exceptions:

1.      Propane/gas-, kerosene- or alcohol-burning cook stoves may be used in residential areas or established recreational camping areas, provided that a person maintaining it has ready access to a fire extinguisher;

2.      Outdoor welding may be performed for industrial, ranching, agricultural, or other business purposes provided that a fire extinguisher is readily accessible at the time the welding is performed.

ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO WILLFULLY VIOLATES THIS BURN BAN IS GUILTY OF A CLASS B MISDEMEANOR (NDCC 37-17.1-10.1) PUNISHABLE BY A FINE OF UP TO $1000.00 FINE AND 30 DAYS IN JAIL.  THE STUTSMAN COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT IS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE CITATIONS TO VIOLATORS.

   This declaration/proclamation shall continue in effect until fire danger conditions have sufficiently improved, at which time this declaration/proclamation shall be rescinded by vote of the Stutsman County Commission.

 DATED this 4th day of September, 2012, at Stutsman County, North Dakota.

_______________________                         ______________________________

Casey Bradley, Auditor/COO                               Mark Klose, Chairman

Stutsman County                                   Stutsman County Commission