Plumes of smoke often dot the horizon this time of year as Hoosiers burn leaves that coat their yards.
But with fire comes certain dangers so those who choose to conduct a controlled burn need to take certain precautions. Assistant Chief Mike Woolington of the Logansport Fire Department asks that people contact dispatch at the non-emergency number of 574-722-6060, or the fire department, to notify them. Woolington says doing so will save them a trip if someone driving by sees a fire and reports it.
“We have to respond,” he said.
Another tip is to consider wind speed and direction, as well as dryness of the leaves. Also, a fire should never be left unattended. Anyone of those factors can lead to a fire becoming destructive.
Woolington said fire departments spend a great deal of their time in the fall responding to controlled burns that have spread due to burning leaves blowing into dry areas, such as harvested fields and dry forest floors.
Cass County resident Steve Hunt recently spent a day blowing leaves in his yard into a line along his driveway. Hunt says clearing the fallen leaves is an annual duty that he takes seriously.
Hunt monitors the weather and the fire, which he makes sure has a break on each side. He says he never leaves his burns unattended. He understands the method is not fool proof, but he feels safe.
Within Logansport city limits, leaf burning is not permitted. Instead the street department asks residents to rake them into piles along the curbs.
Street commissioner Don Crain says workers started 10 days ago using its three leaf vacuums. They will continue their efforts for as long as the weather holds up. Rain, ice and snow tends to slow the process, he said.
Their first lap through every street in the city should be completed Wednesday. Then they will start over again. They usually make three to four passes total.
Crain encourages the public to continue making leaf piles.
“If the weather permits them to get out and rake their yards, get them raked and then just bare with us. We’re not going to quit until we get done or until Mother Nature shuts us off,” said Crain, who has never seen so many leaves down this early in the year.
Brush pickup is put on hold until the street department is done vacuuming the leaves.
“When the leaves start falling and people start raking them, we gear everything 100 percent toward leaf pickup,” Crain said.
Under Crain’s leadership, the street department has been able to turn unwanted yard waste into something valuable.
All the leaves, grass clippings and tree limbs collected throughout the year go to a 17-acre compost heap on the grounds of the Logansport State Hospital. Leaves, for example, are spread into large rows that are turned and aerated about every 30 days. In as little as eight months, the leaves become soil.
“Those leaves turn into the prettiest black dirt,” Crain said of the method he learned from his grandfather some 40 years ago.
Brush is ground up into mulch, which along with the soil is made available to the public, free of charge.
• Kevin Lilly is news editor of the Pharos-Tribune. He can be reached at 574-732-5117 or kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com.
Local News
Related Photos
Discussion
Leaves be gone
Fire department stresses safety while burning.
- Local News
-
- Daddy/Daughter Valentine Dance
-
Victory worth celebrating: United Way raises more than $600,000 for area organizations
Joe Johnson stood at the front of the room where a “small army” of community leaders had just been recognized for their work in raising more than $600,000 for United Way of Cass County. “Woah,” said the incoming campaign chairman. “This is scary.”
-
Accused rapist charged with felony in Arizona
A Logansport man out on bail on multiple sex-related charges was arrested last week in Arizona after police say he tried to attack his dad with a pair of kitchen knives.
-
Jurors: Galveston man not guilty of molest
A jury took only an hour Wednesday to decide that a Galveston man was not guilty of molesting a 9-year-old girl a decade ago.
-
Sen. Head to run for re-election
State Sen. Randy Head announced Wednesday he will seek re-election.
-
Retired Navy chief, former judge announce bids for local office
A former Cass Superior Court judge and a retired senior chief with the Navy announced their candidacies for local seats Wednesday.
-
Snowless savings: Warm weather lowers expenses
The unseasonably warm temperatures have allowed state and local road crews to perform roadwork usually conducted in the fall, lowered Logansport Municipal Utilities electric usage and saved all departments overtime pay for employees.
-
Logansport sees jump in grad rate
Logansport High School saw its graduation rate jump four percentage points in numbers released this week by the Indiana Department of Education.
-
Officials break ground on $1.1M Eel River Run
Contractors are set to begin work on the mile-long Eel River Run trail in downtown Logansport — the result of more than eight years of planning.
-
Fifth candidate files for county council
A longtime Logansport Municipal Utilities worker and former business owner is the first Democrat to file for county office in the coming primary election.
- More Local News Headlines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
