A burn ban that has been lifted for most of the state remains in affect for the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta region.
Fire officials say drought conditions have fire danger at high levels throughout the region and no burning or setting off fireworks will be allowed.
Bethel fire chief Bill Howell explains what’s allowed and what’s not.
“Fireworks are not going to be allowed, as of today. That doesn’t mean that that could not be changed if we get some significant rain. Charcoal grills, outdoor fireplaces, outdoor fire pits, burn barrels – those things are not allowed right now. What is allowed is propane grills, contained electrical grills and smokers and also smoking fish in a traditional smoke house and also steam baths are still okay to use,” said Howell.
Bethel fire officials are asking residents to cooperate. Howell says officials will be enforcing code during the holiday weekend. If convicted, citation fines for violating the fire and fireworks ban range from $25 to $500 dollars and can include 10 days to six months in jail.
The burn ban and fireworks ban is also in affect in Anchorage.
Daysha Eaton is a contributor with the Alaska Public Radio Network.
Daysha Eaton holds a B.A. from Evergreen State College, and a M.A. from the University of Southern California. Daysha got her start in radio at Seattle public radio stations, KPLU and KUOW. Before coming to KBBI, she was the News Director at KYUK in Bethel. She has also worked as the Southcentral Reporter for KSKA in Anchorage.
Daysha's work has appeared on NPR's "Morning Edition" and "All Things Considered", PRI's "The World" and "National Native News". She's happy to take assignments, and to get news tips, which are best sent via email.
Daysha became a journalist because she believes in the power of storytelling. Stories connect us and they help us make sense of our world. They shed light on injustice and they comfort us in troubled times. She got into public broadcasting because it seems to fulfill the intention of the 4th Estate and to most effectively apply the freedom of the press granted to us through the Constitution. She feels that public radio has a special way of moving people emotionally through sound, taking them to remote places, introducing them to people they would not otherwise meet and compelling them to think about issues they might ordinarily overlook.
