Spring burning? Plan ahead and avoid burning in state right-of-way

As temperatures begin to warm and the winter snows melt, many ranchers and farmers head outside to begin their annual agricultural burns.

Each year, as the spring burning season gets into full swing, at least a few of these burns get out of control. This year, the National Weather Service and WYDOT are encouraging people to stay safe and “Learn Before You Burn!”

“Frequently our calm mornings turn windy during the afternoon,” said Lance VandenBoogart of the Riverton NWS office.  “Having an up-to-date wind speed and direction forecast can help you know where any fire is likely to move, and assess any nearby risks.”

VandenBoogart said federal and state land management agencies routinely obtain weather forecasts from the NWS, and citizens should do the same. The Riverton NWS office can be contacted 24 hours a day by phone at 1-800-211-1448. Area-specific forecasts are also available online at weather.gov/forecastpoints or at mobile.weather.gov

Highway conditions and remote weather information are available at wyoroad.info.

Citizens conducting a field burn are not only responsible for what happens on their own property, they may also be held criminally and civilly liable from damages to federal and state property. This includes, but is not limited to, right-of-way fencing, according to WYDOT District 5 Engineer Pete Hallsten of Basin.

“From WYDOT’s perspective, the safety of the traveling public, workers and volunteers in the rights-of-way is first and foremost in decisions made regarding activity on or along the state highway system,” said Hallsten. “The situation of burning highway rights-of-way generates safety concerns for the traveling public by the potential of limited visibility caused by low-hanging smoke and damage to fences, signs, sign posts, guardrail and permitted utilities. Damage to any of these items may increase the potential for a crash or otherwise jeopardize the safety of the highway user.”

Landowners, conservation districts, and others who plan to conduct prescribed burning activities are strongly encouraged to check the latest weather forecast by calling the NWS toll-free at 1-800-211-1448. They should inform local government officials of burn plans as well.

For more information about current and forecast weather conditions, visit the NWS Riverton website at weather.gov/riverton, go to wyoroad.info for road conditions and remote weather information or call WYDOT Public Relations Specialist Cody Beers at (307) 431-1803.