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Why Reporting Controlled Burns is Necessary

Spring in Kansas often brings a window for prescribed burns and land management. While these burns are a necessary part of rural life, they can quickly turn into a public safety hazard if not handled with the proper communication.

Maintaining a safe environment requires a partnership between residents and local authorities. Here is why making that quick phone call before you strike a match is the most important part of your burn plan.


The Danger of "Smoke Chasing"

When a passerby or a neighbor sees smoke and calls 911 or the nonemergent line, dispatchers check the log. If a burn hasn't been reported, we have to assume it's an emergency. This triggers a full response from fire and law enforcement.

  • Wasted Resources: Every "smoke chase" pulls first responders away from their duties and other potential emergencies.

  • Safety of First Responders: Fire trucks and patrol cars responding to an "unknown fire" travel at high speeds with lights and sirens. This creates an unnecessary traffic risk for our officers and fire fighters.

  • Avoiding Confusion: If your burn is on the log, dispatch can quickly reassure callers that it is a controlled, legal activity, keeping the emergency lines open for real crises.


Know the Rules Before You Burn

In Brown County, open burning is regulated by specific resolutions to ensure everyone's safety. While there is no specific Tribal law for this, following these steps helps prevent accidents:

  1. Check the Weather: Never burn if the National Weather Service Rangeland Fire Danger Index for Brown County is High, Very High, or Extreme (link provided below for 03/16/2026).

  2. Watch the Wind: Do not start a burn if sustained wind speeds meet or exceed 20mph. In Kansas, the wind can shift in seconds; if it's gusty, it's not worth the risk.

  3. Call Dispatch First: Contact Brown County Dispatch at (785)742-7125 at least two hours before starting. Be ready to provide your name, phone number, and the exact location of the burn.

  4. Stay on Site: A fire is only "controlled" if a responsible adult is present to control it. You must stay with the fire until it is completely extinguished.

  5. Call it in When Finished: Notify dispatch again once the fire is out so they can clear your location from the active burn log.


In addition to the potential risks provided here, please also remember to be aware of smoke blowing across any roadways while burning, as this creates a dangerous visibility hazard for other drivers.

By taking five minutes to call dispatch, you protect the people who work every day to protect you. Let's keep the community, and our first responders, safe.




Payton R. Beims - Interim Chief of Police

785.486.1227

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