Outside blaze results in citation

Spokane Valley Fire officials want to remind residents that recreational burns are legal, but there are parameters people need to follow.

Out of 185 calls, crews went to 17 fires between Aug. 30 and Sept. 4. Five of those were outside blazes, said spokesman Bill Clifford. One fire resulted in a citation.

Outside fires must be at least 25 feet from a structure, and any dried grass must be trimmed down and soaked, Clifford said. The fire pit can’t be any bigger than 3 feet in diameter.

Residents can burn only clean cut wood, such as dried branches. Lumber leftover from a fence project is not considered clean cut wood, Clifford said. The fuels that can be used to burn wood are charcoal briquettes, propane or camp stove fuel.

And no fires are allowed on burn ban days. Call your local fire department to find out when burn bans are in effect before burning.

During the same time period, firefighters also responded to four vehicle fires, three brush fires, 12 false alarms, 121 medical calls and 22 vehicle crashes, Clifford said. Crews also went out on two service calls, a child locked in a car and a broken water pipe.