DUDLEY — Firefighters from Dudley along with representatives from the North Carolina Forestry Service responded to several brush fires. 

In the attached pictures, firefighters are seen putting out a brush fire on Sleepy Creek Road near Old Mount Olive Highway. 

March marks the beginning of Spring wildfire season in North Carolina. The N.C. Forest Service responded to more than 5,300 wildfires across North Carolina in 2023, with escaped debris burns as the leading cause.

James Farfour, Deputy Chief of the Goldsboro Fire Department recently spoke with Goldsborodailynews.com to offer some tips for safe burning for those residents who live in the county where burning is legal.

Farfour pointed to weather, not leaving a fire unattended, and the location of a fire as priorities to consider when burning.

“First and foremost, keep an eye on the weather, watch for the wind and how the weather is going to affect burning,” Farfour said. “Attend to the fire, don’t set it and leave it. If necessary, have a water supply close by, or some way to control it. Keeping a good buffer between your fire and other vegetation in the area is also helpful. A lot of people will want to burn close to a woodline or something else just for appearance purposes, but that’s not always the best idea.”

Farfour offered insight into safely using propane and charcoal grills as well as fire pits.

“On the grilling, especially if you’re using charcoal, give it adequate time to cool and that will be well after you’ve already eaten before you dump your charcoal,” Farfour said. “Gas grills, we like to remind people gas grills do take some maintenance and if you haven’t used it all winter, it’s a good idea to make sure your jets under your burners are clean and not stopped up. You want to light it to make sure it’s working well before you’re ready to cook on there, that way you have a chance to get anything fixed if it’s not working properly. With gas grills, we like to remind people any time you light them make sure the lid is open, in case there is any kind of malfunction you want that gas to be able to escape. With fire pits, it’s important to burn natural items. The issues we’ve seen with fire pits is people putting something in there that’s too large.”

Farfour also advised against grilling on wooden decks, particularly for residents living in apartments.

The N.C. Forest Service also offers the following tips:

·    Check local burning laws. Some communities allow burning only during specified hours. Others forbid it entirely.

·    Make sure you have a valid permit. You can obtain a burn permit at any N.C. Forest Service office or authorized permitting agent, or online at ncforestservice.gov/burnpermit.

·    Keep an eye on the weather. Don’t burn on dry, windy days.

·    Local fire officials can recommend a safe way to burn debris. Don’t pile vegetation on the ground. Instead, place it in a cleared area and contain it in a screened receptacle away from overhead branches and wires.

·    Be sure you are fully prepared before burning. To control the fire, you will need a hose, bucket, steel rake, and a shovel for tossing dirt on the fire. Keep a phone nearby, too.

·    Never use kerosene, gasoline, diesel fuel, or other flammable liquids to speed up debris burning.

·    Stay with your fire until it is completely out.

To learn more about fire safety and preventing wildfires and loss of property, refer to Fire Safety Outdoors.

For information about creating defensible space and a fire-resistant landscape around your home and property, visit resistwildfirenc.org. Contact information for county rangers with the N.C. Forest Service is available online at ncforestservice.gov/contacts.