A local fire forester is warning of the dangers of wildfires and debris burning.

Jake Novitsky, a fire forester with the Weiser Forest District covering Schuylkill County, said weather conditions, among other things, can elevate the risk of fires.

“Don’t burn when it’s hot, dry and windy,” he said Monday, adding the leaves are dry, providing fuel for a fire.

He said the relative humidity is very low. The National Weather Service said there is an increased risk of brush fires today.

Novitsky said the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has responded to 35 wildfires since March 14. Of those, at least 20 were caused by debris burning. Fires caused by power lines that have fallen rank were the next reason, he said.

The largest fire in Schuylkill County this year was a 7.7-acre fire caused by downed power lines in Eldred Township March 14.

Novitsky was notified of a debris burn in Porter Township Monday, where the resident was burning cardboard. Two fires in Auburn Monday are being investigated, he said.

Novitsky urged those debris burning to be careful.

“You’re liable for all suppression costs. It could be thousands, thousands of dollars,” he said.

There is no charge for investigations, he said.

Tamaqua Fire Chief James Connely said the borough discourages burning and would rather residents dispose of items in the trash.

“There is so much of a chance of the embers getting away and possibly causing a brush fire or lighting a structure on fire,” Connely said.

Burn barrels are not permitted in Tamaqua.

The borough has a burning ordinance in effect. It says in part “open burning shall be conducted in a safe nuisance free manner ... in conformance with all local and state fire regulations.”

Open burning must be conducted at a location at least 50 feet from the closest building that is not on the same property except for campfires.

Control burns

DCNR recommends the following when burning:

• Check for local burn bans or ordinances, and don’t burn when it’s windy or when vegetation is very dry.

• Choose a burn site surrounded by gravel or dirt that has three times the height of the pile for vertical clearance from tree limbs and structures.

• Keep your piles small and manageable- add additional debris as the fire burns down.

• Keep the surroundings watered down during the burn and have a shovel close by

• Make sure burn barrels are metal, in good condition, properly vented, and have metal top screen.

• Stay with your fire until out, drown with water, turn over ashes with shovel, repeat several times, and check site regularly over several days.