Dry conditions lead to brush fire danger
By Shane Donaldson and Mark Schieldrop/Independent Staff Writers
An unusually dry March has contributed to a spate of brush fires in the region, one of which led to the arrest of a 20-year-old University of Rhode Island student on charges of second-degree and sixth-degree arson and possession of fireworks.
Matthew S. Reuter, 20, of 65 Chestnut Ave., Narragansett, was charged Saturday with throwing lit fireworks off the deck of a house on Chestnut Avenue, which ignited an intense brush fire that police said lit up the sky. Reuter faces a minimum prison sentence of two years and a maximum of 20 years for the second-degree arson charge as well as fines of up to $2,500.
The fire, according to Fire Chief James Cotter, was a ?pretty good fire,? spreading rapidly, threatening nearby homes and damaging a shed behind 61 Chestnut Ave. in Point Judith. The blaze spread about 200 yards from its source.
?It went up quickly. With the wind and those cat-o?-nine-tails, it went fast,? Cotter said. ?Fortunately, it was put out quickly and there were no injuries.?
Local fire officials are warning residents to take extra caution with burns. The issuance of burning permits in Narragansett has been suspended for the time being, Cotter said.
In South Kingstown, Union and Kingston fire district personnel had to battle a pair of brush fires within a 45-minute span Monday morning. The first - in fields near 176 Saugatucket Road and 4123 Tower Hill Road - was called in at 8:50 a.m. and extinguished by 9:13 a.m., but not before an acre of land was burned.
Just 24 minutes after that fire was out, a call came for a brush fire at 75 Otter Acres Way in Tuckertown. Hot coals from a wood stove had been dumped outside, igniting leaves. Firefighters from the Kingston, Forest Fire, Tower Hill, Peace Dale, Wakefield, Tuckertown and West Kingston stations responded and had the second blaze knocked down within 26 minutes, but a half-acre was burned.
In addition to the pair of fires Monday, the Union and Kingston fire districts have responded to seven brush fire calls since Thursday.
Union Fire District Chief Robert Perry said brush fires are typical for this time of year because of the amount of dead, dried leaves and branches on the ground. With limited snow and rainfall this winter, the area has been especially dry.
?The woods are usually wet from snowfall this time of year, but this has been a very dry spell,? Perry said. ?Because of that, we are seeing brush fires start quickly. They become fast moving when they get into wooded areas because the leaves, sticks and branches go up so easily.?
At this point, South Kingstown is at a medium fire risk, according to the state Department of Environmental Management. Burning permits are suspended when an area reaches levels of high and extreme risk, as was the case in South County last August. In addition, state law prohibits burning between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. from March 15 through April 15.
While there has been plenty of activity of late, Perry cautioned that soon-to-be rising temperatures could complicate matters. Rain is expected this weekend, which should help the situation for a few days, but the ground is expected to dry out as temperatures increase.
?People should really curtail any outside burning until we get some rain,? Perry said. ?If they are going to burn, they need to make sure when they leave it that they make sure a fire is out.?
Plants and trees are classified as being in Stage 1, or a cured stage. This is when trees and plants are bare, and the branches and stems are the driest, making them easier to burn. When weather is warmer and there is more wind, fires can spread even faster.
?The dry weather certainly comes into play, but most of the fires we are seeing are the result of improperly disposed stove ashes or cigarettes,? said Karl Kenyon, principal forest ranger for DEM?s Arcadia Management Headquarters.
Kenyon said residents should take extra caution in the coming weeks. As the weather improves, more people will be out in their yards clearing dead leaves and branches. Before attempting any burns, he said, it?s important to acquire proper permits from local fire officials. In South Kingstown, burning permits are issued through the Police Department.
For more information on making your home fire safe, check out firewise.org.
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