Broken Arrow: Burn Permits Are Approved to Handle Ice Storm Debris

By Rhett Morgan, Tulsa World, Okla.

Jan. 9–BROKEN ARROW — The City Council gave approval Monday for a burn permit program to deal with excess tree debris left by December’s ice storm, city spokesman Keith Sterling said.

Greg Neely, the city’s deputy chief of fire prevention, said: “Any time you start a fire, there’s a certain element of risk. But we’re confident that we’ve provided enough safeguards in there that if citizens are diligent and go by the provisions in the permit system, that we can do this without incident. Any risk would be outweighed by the benefits.”

The Dec. 9-10 ice storm mangled the state’s trees and left more than 600,000 Oklahoma power customers without electricity.

Although Broken Arrow has allowed burning for several years, it is modifying its policy to accommodate the high demand for permits, particularly from residents who live on lots of one acre or larger, Neely said.

The special burn permits are free and are good until April 1. Residents may fill out permit applications at City Hall, 220 South First St., or online at www.tulsaworld.com/ba.

The permits contain more than a dozen provisions, and the

failure to comply with any of them may result in a permit revocation or fines.

Among the provisions:

–Residences and businesses with lot sizes of one acre or greater can burn only tree and limb debris that resulted from the December 2007 storm.

–Burning is allowed only when the wind speed is 10 mph or less.

–The use of flammable or combustible liquids as accelerants or starters is prohibited.

–Initial burning shall begin only between three hours after sunrise and three hours before sunset, and additional fuel may not be intentionally added to the fire outside those times.

–Burning debris piles may not be larger than 10 feet square or taller than 5 feet.

–Active burn piles must be constantly monitored.

–Fires may not be closer than 50 feet to any structure.

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Rhett Morgan 581-8395 rhett.morgan@tulsaworld.com

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