By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Saturday opens the second open burning period of the year in St. Joseph as November begins.
Stephanie Malita at the St. Joseph Health Department reminds everyone that open burning is only for any yard waste you want to get rid of
"There’s not construction materials or anything else or regular trash, it’s just yard wast is what is allowed for open burning,” Malita tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.
Leaves, brush, and logs must be burned in a container of no more than 55 gallons, and no fire can be within 15 feet of any building.
Malita says to protect yourself, and your property, make sure you have a source of water nearby as well
"Or a fire extinguisher handy just in case the wind changes or something starts to go sideways while you’re doing your open burning, so that you have the opportunity to contain that fire,” Malita explains.
Malita says you should also have an adult monitoring the fire at all times. Open burning can only be done between 8am and 6pm.
Malita says if you need to contact the fire department do so, they will come out as a non-emergency call
“Unless you call them and say hey my house is on fire, they’ll respond if it’s starting to spread through your lawn or whatever, but if it’s not threatening a building they’re going to come just in the truck, they’re not going to come with lights and sirens going,” Malita says.
Open burning will be canceled anytime the weather is not suitable. It runs until the end of November.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.