Conditions ripe for grass fires in the Tennessee Valley

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee(WDEF) – Although weather conditions throughout the Tennessee Valley have been desirable over the past couple of days, it has also created the perfect recipe for grass fires.

According to the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Center, conditions are so ripe for grass fires that the Division of Forestry asked the pollution control center to issue a burning ban on Thursday; a ban during the time of year when it’s still legal to burn certain materials as long as the person doing the burning has a permit.

“Ironically, this is first time in 36-years to my knowledge that the Division of Forestry has said no burning due to relative low humidity in the plants. Usually it’s no burning do to high winds today but today was the first for us,” said Pollution Control Director Bob Colby.

Firefighters have already seen their fare share of grass fires in recent days.

Wednesday afternoon a grass fire ignited in the median of Highway 27 near the northbound ML King exit. Although the cause of the blaze has yet to be determined, experts say tossed cigarette butts are usually the culprit.

“Dry grass is quit flammable so when you have conditions like you have today with low humidity and windy conditions; it doesn’t take much to stir up a fire from an improperly discarded cigarette butt in a bunch of grass. It’s just not that hard,” said Chattanooga Fire Department Spokesman Bruce Garner.

Conditions were so dry and windy that it helped flames inch close to traffic in the left northbound lane. Although no motorists were injured, the situation was still considered dangerous.

“It creates a lot of flames, a lot of smoke and decreases visibility and it’s just distracting for motorists so it is a hazard,” Garner said.

So while the weather accentuates the view of the Tennessee Valley, fire officials are asking everyone to remember those very same conditions can also fuel fires when people become careless.