Although the grass is turning green and flowers are blooming, those trying to get rid of dead leaves and limbs by burning have quickly found out that conditions are not favorable for outdoor burning because the ground has been so dry.

Local authorities have urged those who need to burn brush to use extreme caution.

Doug Jones, Surry County fire marshal, said the N.C. Forest Service has been busy chasing down fires that have gotten out of control in recent weeks. According to statistics at the Surry County 911 Communications Center, the N.C. Forestry Service has had to be called for out of control fires 21 times since March 1. Jones said while brush fires are normal this time of year, he could not say whether or not there are more this year than in 2009.

“Things are sort of dry, everything on top of the ground, all of the grass and leaves. Things really aren’t that green yet. It’s starting to green up, but until then, when the wind is blowing and a fire gets started, the wind can take it and carry it on through pretty quickly,” Jones said.

He said his office has issued quite a few burning permits over the past couple of weeks. The Surry County Fire Marshal’s office is an agent from which people can obtain N.C. Forestry Service burning permits for free.

“Everything we’ve written permits for is where people just want to burn a small brush pile around in their yard including leaves and limbs. People are just doing their regular spring cleanup,” Jones said.

He said a burning permit allows people to burn between midnight and 4 p.m. He said burning is allowed without a permit between 4 p.m. and midnight as long as the fire is out by midnight.

“The reason for that is generally around 4 p.m., the wind dies down the humidity comes up and fires are less likely to get out. That’s when they prefer people to burn is in late in the afternoon or early evening,” Jones said.

He said those who do not abide by the rules can be cited by one of the county forestry rangers. According to authorities with the Surry County District courts, the court cost on that ordinance violation is $125. Any additional fines would be at the discretion of the presiding judge.

Jones said on days when the wind is blowing, fires are especially hard to control.

“No matter how small it is, it can spread and cause a fire and not mean to. Sometimes it involves a structure, your home or somebody else’s home. The main thing is don’t burn when it’s windy. Even if you are standing where the ground is damp, the wind has dried out the light fuels, the grasses and the leaves. They are dry and they are ready to burn right now,” Jones said.

Spring time is also notorious for mulch fires, Jones said.

“Once fire gets into mulch, it’s very hard to extinguish, you basically have to dig it out. Mulch fires spread underneath the surface, so it’s hard to tell where it’s going,” he said.

He said mulch can especially cause problems when it’s spread beside a house, especially a wood- or vinyl-sided house. He said the heat from the sun can set mulch on fire. He said there was one situation where a man’s mulch kept catching on fire and then one day he was outside and noticed that one of his upstairs windows was catching the sun and reflecting back onto the mulch, acting much like a magnifying glass.

“People need to be very careful. Putting anything combustible up against your house may not be a good thing. If your mulch, leaves or bushes burn up to your house, it’s going to set your house on fire. It’s always a good practice to keep a non-combustible barrier of gravel, green grass or whatever, between your house and anything combustible,” Jones said.

Even ashes from a charcoal grill can cause a threat. He said those need to be kept in a metal bucket for at least a week and wet down.

“That’s something that you need to be very cautious with,” he said.

Fire prevention is key to saving lives and property.

“Just use some common sense and keep the things that burn away from the things that cause heat,” said Jones.

Burning of any type is illegal in the Mount Airy city limits. Fire Chief Chip Osborne said most city residents are aware of the law and no major incidents have been reported this year.

The city of Mount Airy is conducting its spring clean-up that continues until next Friday. Yard waste will be collected curbside and the 5-feet or 3-inches parameter on limbs will be waived during this time.

“We will pick up anything as long as citizens can get it to the curb,” said Delmas Overby, sanitation supervisor for the City of Mount Airy.

Overby said loose leaves will continue to be picked-up. Extra trucks are being used to keep up with the demand.

For more information about burning permits, call the Surry County Fire Marshal’s Office at 783-9040. For more information from the N.C. Forest Service, look up www.dfr.state.nc.us/.

Contact Mondee Tilley at mtilley@mtairynews.com or at 719-1930.