Kelly Hoffman Lincoln County Fire Warden and Jay Hokanson, Lincoln County Emergency Management are asking the public to use caution going into the Independence Day holiday.

Hoffman warned of the dry conditions.

“We had a meeting with BLM officers who oversee the fuel moisture tests in the county and the region and levels are dropping fast,” he said. “They set up a weather station to measure precipitation about seven miles south of Cokeville on April 18 and it hasn’t had any measurable precipitation since they put it up. We’ve had a little blow through Cokeville but nothing in the way of moisture.”

RELATED: RADIO INTERVIEW WITH KELLY HOFFMAN AND JAY HOKANSON –

Hoffman added, “The grass, the fine…fuels, we call them the one-hour fuels, they are drying rapidly. They help carry the fire. The other problem is the winds, we have had this year, almost every day. So you combine those things.”

Hoffman offered a scenario about the fire dangers. “Someone goes out and thinks they’re going to burn something in their backyard and soon they are burning their yard, their neighbors’ yard and up the hill and everywhere else. We are concerned about the safety of people.”

Hoffman concluded, What Jay [Hokanson] and I want to emphasize is be smart with what you are doing outside now. Something could turn into a bad situation if we don’t watch the wind and conditions and we don’t watch what we are doing.”

Hokanson complimented the rapid response on a recent fire near Cottonwood Lake.

“The Forest Service has been good about jumping on them and putting them out. They showed up on the Porcupine Fire with a hot shot crew and two helicopters. They were able to jump on that and contain that. They got a line around it and now it’s mop up and they are getting the hot spots out,” said.

Hokanson also warned, “It is dry out there. We are starting to see more fires popping up. Sublette County and Sweetwater got a new one yesterday. They are not only around us but they are in our county.”

Hokanson addressed controlled burn projects. “A big one we have are controlled burns. We are seeing some of these get out of control with the wind. They start them in the morning when it’s calm and cool and then they leave. They think they have them out but the winds pick up and flare them up.”

He advised that controlled burns should be small. “I remind everyone on their controlled burns, they need to be small,” noted Hokanson. “Preferable in a burn pit if they have construction. Only untreated wood and rubbish. They need to call it into dispatch and let them know they are doing a controlled burn so when someone sees it, they are not calling out the fire department. We are getting several calls a day from people seeing fire. It’s being diligent on their part and calling it in. If they don’t call the controlled burn in, then they have to send the fire department out.”

He added, “We are lucky in this area that we don’t have to have permits for controlled burns for agriculture and for whatever reason and we want to keep it that way.”

Hokanson, concluded, “Please be mindful and respectful and make sure you call it in and let dispatch know.”

Looking at the holiday ahead, he said. “Let’s be safe going into the Fourth with our fireworks. We don’t want to see anybody hurt and we want everyone to have a safe Fourth of July. Enjoy their family and their time, celebrating the Fourth.”