Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Wednesday, November 2, 2011
(UNDATED) - Firefighters and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management are asking residents not to burn piles of leaves or yard debris - even if it is allowed.
State law allows open burning of leaves, branches, twigs, and other yard debris in most parts of the state. Some local ordinances like in Bedford, ban fires.
Smoke from open burning is harmful to not only the environment, but also the people living nearby. IDEM officials say that the smoke includes carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, fine particles and ozone-forming chemicals.
Wet leaves or branches can cause the amount of these chemicals in a fire to multiply.
Roger Johnson, President of the Indiana Firefighter's Association, said that open burning also causes problems for firefighters. He says fires can quickly get out of control.
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