Just My Opinion - by Mary Kilen
It’s Just Way Too Dry Out There
We’ve all grown accustomed to the county’s automatic burn ban. They issued it on March 7 this year, which was pretty early but based on conditions it was time. That bans burning when conditions are deemed appropriate. The restrictions are based on the fire index put out each morning by the North Dakota Homeland Security/Disaster Emergency Service Watch Center is Bismarck. The North Dakota Fire Danger Index is calculated using weather forecasts and fire behavior models. The National Weather Service issues the index daily.
Mountrail County citizens and visitors are reminded to daily check the index before any type of burning. You must call the Mountrail County Dispatcher Center at 701-628-2975 before you do any type of burning for possible additional fire restriction placed by the local fire department districts. The fire Index can be found at https://www.ndresponse.gov/burn-restrictions-fire-danger-maps.
Last Friday, the area fire chiefs in Mountrail County met and decided to issue TOTAL burn ban in the county until further notice. This mandate supersedes any other fire map published.
Stanley Fire Chief Aaron Skarsgard says that this came as the map did not indicate the severity of the heat, dryness and wind being experienced in Mountrail County.
The fire departments are hoping that the weather forecast holds for this week and we get some significant rain along with some cooling temperatures. A significant rain would green up more in the fields and reduce how much fuel there is in the event of a wildfire.
When the conditions improve, the departments will notify the Mountrail County Sheriff’s Department and local media, announcing when they lift this total ban.
Even when that is lifted, they ask that residents use common sense when they are considering a burn of any type.
Meanwhile, if you were on Facebook, the news of the ban was spreading like (pardon the phrase) wildfire. Stanley Police Department decided to not only share the information, but maybe provide some humor for those reading their post. It read:
“ATTENTION: Mountrail County - This Is Not a Drill (Or a Grill)
Due to current weather conditions, a BURN BAN is now in effect for ALL of Mountrail County.
That means:
No campfires (we see you, wannabe wilderness chefs)
No burning garbage (yes, that means even your ex’s stuff)
No burning trees, brush, ditches, or that suspicious pile of “just twigs” in your backyard or anything else you think might be fun to light up.
You’re not Sean Kingston and shawty better wait to burn up the dance floor until after this burn ban.
No tiki torches, fire pits/tables, or flame throwing for fun. This includes propane fire tables.
Grills are permitted (we know everyone loves a good steak on the grill).
NO OPEN FLAMES. PERIOD.
If it involves fire and it’s not inside a stove/grill, it’s a no-go. We’re serious. Like, “show up in uniform” serious.
Don’t test us. We’ve got smoke detectors, binoculars, and dispatchers who can smell smoke from 12 miles away.
Our volunteer firefighters are exhausted. They’ve been chasing down flames like it’s a full-time job, except they already have full-time jobs. So let’s give them a break, and maybe a nap.
Keep it cool, Mountrail. Literally. Let’s all enjoy the smell of “not smoke” and make it through this without toasting the county.
Feel free to share this to help spread the word faster than a grass fire in July.
Sincerely,
Your friendly but slightly crispy police officers”
Signs of Spring/Summer
This last weekend was for lack of a better phrase exceptionally hot. Heat and sunshine inspire me to get out into my flowerbeds. I had cleaned the front one out pretty well last fall when we were getting the house resided and then finished cleaning it for Dale to put up Christmas lights. My perennials were confused because they got cut back early, it got cool and they went dormant, then it warmed up and they started growing again, then it got cool, then it warmed up. You get the picture.
I lost about four of them in the front planter, and another six between the two planting areas I have in my back yard.
I’m used to losing a few, but this was a tough year.
That meant it was time to hit the greenhouse. I picked up my chosen perennials on Saturday, while looking longingly at all of the beautiful annuals. I reminded myself that was not a good idea. It is too early in May to be planting annuals. After all, even though it was nearly 100 on Saturday and Sunday, they are predicting the possibility for frost this coming weekend as the temperatures drop significantly.
So for now, I’ll just have to finish cleaning out the daylily bed and wait a couple of weeks before I start putting in annuals. I’m guessing it will be after State Track now because things will be awfully busy between now and then.
On Monday, I saw another welcome sign of the coming season. I saw a couple of people cleaning at the new pool. I hope they have another successful season this year. It was great to see the pool full so often last summer. I know my grandkids sure enjoyed going each time they were here last summer.