The State of Emergency had been declared because of the warm temperatures and lack of rain that the region had experienced, a condition that had caused a significant risk for brush fires to occur, threatening public safety.

County Director of Emergency Response Lee Shurtleff advises, "With the change in weather conditions, people can resume their normal activities, using proper safety procedures."

Although the ban has been lifted, caution should still be exercised while performing any outside burning. Individuals cooking outdoors must have readily available the proper means to extinguish the fire, if needed, such as a hose or a bucket of water.

County officials provide the following additional safety information:

• Check local laws and ordinances prior to any burning.
• Consider alternatives to burning such as composting and recycling.
• Do not burn on windy days or when wind is expected.
• Only woody material such as leaves, grass and light brush should be burned.
• Clear all flammable material for a distance of 10 to 15 feet around the material to be burned.
• Keep piles to be burned small, adding material to be burned in small quantities as burning progresses.
• Start burning as early in the day as possible. Try to finish burning before noon, as the morning usually has the most favorable daylight weather conditions of high humidity and low winds. These conditions will aid in keeping the fire from escaping.
• Always have a garden hose, shovel, water bucket or other means of extinguishment on hand.
• Never leave a fire unattended. Even a small breeze could quickly cause the fire to spread.
• Always be sure the fire is completely extinguished before leaving it unattended.