Ozone season includes greater burning restrictions
Wichita Fire Department officials today announced open burning in Wichita and said surrounding areas will face additional restrictions during the ozone season which begins Sunday.
Restricted activities include burning trees and brush from land clearing, crop residues, construction debris, fire fighter training burns, and yard waste. The restrictions do not include outdoor cooking. During ozone season, non-essential open burning operations will be suspended from April1 through May 1.
The burning restrictions are a result of state regulations enacted in 2011 to address air pollution in urban areas. They are designed to discourage open burning in 16 specific counties during the month of April. Burn activities not explicitly exempted by the new state regulation will be subject to review and approval by the City of Wichita Division of Environmental Health.
The restrictions stem from the Kansas Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan, implemented to address concerns that smoke from regional agricultural burning was significantly affecting urban area ozone levels, specifically the Wichita and Kansas City areas.
Questions should be directed to the Fire Prevention Division at 268-4441 or to the Office of Environmental Health at 268-8350.
