Don’t burn in April, officials remind residents of Sedgwick and 15 other counties
Here’s an annual reminder: Sedgwick County and 15 others are under an open burn ban for all of April.
Restricted activities include “burning trees and brush from land clearing, crop residues, construction debris, yard waste and the use of backyard chimineas and fire pits,” a city news release said.
Starting April 1, no new burn ban permits will be issued and previously issued permits will be suspended until May 1. Exceptions to the ban include “outdoor cooking apparatuses, ceremonial fires, or open burning for the purpose of crop, range, pasture, and wildlife or watershed management,” the release said.
The ban was put in place years ago to reduce smoke in the air around Wichita and Kansas City while ranchers burn pastures in the Flint Hills.
“Ensuring Wichita does what we can to stay in compliance with national ozone standards is crucial,” said Public Works & Utilities Director Alan King in a statement. “Flint Hills agricultural burning can cause Wichita air to be at risk of exceeding those standards, which can not only be unhealthy for residents, but result in hefty fines.”
The allowed burning operations will still require a valid permit from Sedgwick County. Residents may request these online at www.sedgwickcounty.org/fire or by calling 316-660-3473
These counties are also affected: Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Cowley, Elk, Geary, Greenwood, Johnson, Lyon, Marion, Morris, Pottawatomie, Riley, Wabaunsee and Wyandotte.