Weed Burn and Spring Cleanup Underway
Russ Baldwin | Mar 15, 2012 | Comments 0
Members of the Lamar Fire Department and Public Works Department were starting fires Thursday morning, March 15, along a stretch of the Willow Creek Drainage area. “We’re probably looking at about four to five miles of weed growth and accumulated debris,” said Public Works Director, Pat Mason. Fire teams were using propane tanks to ignite the growth just east of the Lamar Swimming Pool. The burn is intended to reach east of Lamar to the Clay Creek area.
Lamar Fire Chief Marshall Cook said, “There’s still some moisture and dew on the weed growth, but by the time the sun gets up, the fires will start to take hold.” Cook was planning to move forward along the ditch to spots where tumbleweeds accumulate and determine if they should be fired first. “This is about one year’s weed growth,” Mason remarked. He and Cook believed this was the first time in several years that the area had been burned off. A backhoe was on hand, pushing down the dry weeds to create an accumulated fuel base on which the fires could feed. Both men felt this would be a several days task before the drainage area was cleared off.
By Russ Baldwin
Filed Under: Agriculture • City • community • County • Lamar • Public Safety • Weather
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