Lincoln Fire and Rescue is bracing for a potential early fire season. LFR Assistant Chief Michael Smith tells KLIN News says the unusually dry and windy winter is a bad combination.
“Even a ten mile per hour wind, which really isn’t that much, can spread that fire quicker than a person can handle themselves.” Smith says they monitor the forecast each day. “Every morning we have a briefing with all of the crews and we do mention wind conditions if they’re out of the ordinary and start thinking ahead if more resources are needed or we have to call in grass rigs from surrounding communities.”
Smith is urging residents to be extra careful to prevent fires from getting out of hand. “Smoking materials, make sure they are discarded in a proper container, and preferably not on a deck and when you’re using a fire pit make sure you have a hose line or an extinguisher.” He also says keep the area around the pit cleaned up.
Smith says if you plan on having a cookout at a local part make sure the fire is completely out. “It’s easy to leave and think it’s ok and next thing you know, two or three hours later, the grass could be on fire.”