Outdoor burning begins

Colfax Fire Chief Steven Thime has prepared an information sheet to assist residents who apply for outdoor burning permits. Residents are required to call the fire department to obtain a permit before setting an outdoor fire within the city limits.

In the first four days of this month, the city issued eight permits with five requested Saturday.

The fire department has prepared a burning information sheet which can be emailed to residents who request the permits.

The information sheet notes burn piles should be no larger than 4x4x3 and be located at least 50 feet away from structures and other combustibles.

Residents are required to burn one fire site at a time and not conduct burns of material which is hauled in from other sites. Use of gasoline to start fires is prohibited, but use of paper is allowed.

The burning permit process provides the fire station with a list of locations where fires are being intentionally set to compare against sites where residents report fires.

Burn barrels have been illegal in Colfax since 1964, the directory notes.