Mesa County Public Health has issued an Open Burn Ban for Thursday April 12 due to a National Weather Service Wind Advisory. The ban includes agricultural burns.
Winds speeds are expected to increase to 25 to 35 mph with gusts ranging from 40 to 50 mph. High winds can push smoke from an open burn into neighborhoods or schools, causing health problems for residents in those areas.
Residents should also be advised that the winds could pick up dust, causing problems for sensitive groups including those with respiratory illnesses, heart disease, the elderly and children. Those groups should stay indoors and avoid prolonged outdoor exercise or heavy exertion, today.
Open burn permits are valid throughout the burn season, which ends May 31. Residents who wish to burn today will still have the opportunity to do so until season-end.
If you need to clear your yard of open burning materials today, consider these alternatives:
- Take your yard waste to the Mesa County Organic Materials composting facility at Mesa County Solid Waste, 3071 U.S. Hwy 50. The facility accepts material for composting at no charge, and is open from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.
- Compost at home. This can improve water retention in your yard or garden.
- Rent or borrow a wood chipper for your tree and shrub trimmings.
For more information on air quality conditions, visit health.mesacounty.us