Effective immediately and until further notice, open burning is banned in the Village of Richmond (VOR) and the unincorporated areas of the Richmond Fire Protection District (RTFPD).
Most burning is already prohibited by a County wide Health Department ordinance and a local VOR ordinance. Campfires and bonfires (with a permit), which would be allowed under the ordinances, are included in the ban. The use of gas fired grills, with a cover, is permitted as long as they are not used on a lawn or other easily ignitable surface (fields, grass, wood mulch). The drought has dried plant material sufficiently that a spark, hot embers, fireworks or even a cigarette butt will ignite a field fire. Fanned by winds, the potential risk to homes is too great to permit open burning. The Village and Fire Protection District is asking residents to use extreme care over the next few weeks as the weather service predicts little rain and excessive heat. Dried plant material burns readily. Where it is near a home, e.g. landscaping or dried lawns, any fire can result in a devastating loss. The VOR and the RTFPD will notify residents when the ban has been lifted.