‘Ready to ignite’: Risks of burning grass outweigh perceived benefits, warns DNR | CBC News
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The risk of inadvertently starting a wildfire when burning grass to deal with ticks, improve soil quality, or remove weeds and dead foliage outweighs any perceived benefits, warns Nova Scotia’s manager of forest protection.
Scott Tingley of the Department of Natural Resources said firefighters have responded to dozens of reports about grass fires this spring.
In a recent interview with CBC Radio’s Information Morning, Tingley said the province doesn’t recommend burning grass — even when burning is permitted.
“People are still responsible for the fires that they light,” he said.
Wildfire season in Nova Scotia runs from March 15 to Oct. 15. The province sees most of its wildfires in April and May when the grass is dry and brown, Tingley said.
“That fuel, we call it, that doesn’t take very long to dry out,” he said.
“In sunny and windy conditions, it only takes an afternoon, and those fuels are dried out and ready to ignite and they spread very quickly.”
Tingley said people can be caught off guard when they think they’re having a small fire or doing something relatively innocuous.
The province sets daily burn restrictions at 2 p.m. that let people know whether they can have a small domestic fire starting at 2 p.m., 7 p.m., or not at all.
No burning is permitted between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. on any day during the fire season.
Safer alternatives for brush
“If it’s material that they’re trying to kind of clean up around their property, there’s alternatives,” Tingley said.
“You can save it for the winter, you know, build a pile. That’s one of the recommendations we have. And burn it during the time of year when there’s snow on the ground or … significantly less risk in the off-season.”
Tingley said composting and green bins are other options where materials can be removed from properties and taken away safely.
The Department of Natural Resources says grass burning is destructive and dangerous, and that it can kill animals and destroy their habitats.
The department said grass burning reduces grass yield by 50 per cent to 70 per cent, makes it easier for weeds to grow, doesn’t make grass greener and doesn’t provide nutrients in the soil.
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