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<b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#00467E;mso-fareast-language:JA">News Media Contacts<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#00467E;mso-fareast-language:JA">Jason B. Shepherd, Durham County Chief Fire Marshal</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:JA"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#00467E;mso-fareast-language:JA">919-201-6638 (mobile)</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:JA"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-fareast-language:JA"><a href="mailto:jshepherd@dconc.gov"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">jshepherd@dconc.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:JA"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:JA"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#00467E;mso-fareast-language:JA">Jody Morton, City of Durham Fire Marshal/Assistant Chief<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#00467E;mso-fareast-language:JA">919-218-5746 (mobile)</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:JA"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoHeader" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="mso-fareast-language:JA"><a href="mailto:jody.morton@durhamnc.gov"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">jody.morton@durhamnc.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:JA"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoHeader" align="right" style="text-align:right"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#00467E;mso-fareast-language:JA"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:50.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#00467F">News Release</span><span style="font-size:49.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#00467F;text-transform:uppercase">
</span><span style="font-size:49.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#00538E;text-transform:uppercase"><br>
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#EF3D42">For Immediate
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:red">Release: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:25.4pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;vertical-align:middle">
<span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#D3372A"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Durham County and City of Durham Fire Marshals Institute Burning Ban<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">DURHAM, N.C.</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> – The North Carolina Department of Agriculture Forest Service issued a
</span><a href="https://www.ncforestservice.gov/news_pubs/newsdesk_2021.htm#11292021"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">statewide ban</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> on open burning on
Monday, November 29, 2021. The current Forestry Service ban does not apply within 100 feet of occupied dwellings. Therefore, to protect Durham residents and the environment, the Fire Marshals in Durham County and the City of Durham today issued a local burning
ban within 100 feet of all occupied dwellings as authorized by local </span><a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flibrary.municode.com%2Fnc%2Fdurham_county%2Fcodes%2Fcode_of_ordinances%3FnodeId%3DCOOR_CH16FIPRPR_S16-13BOOTOUFI&data=04%7C01%7Chrjones%40dconc.gov%7C1dceacc4829f4bff92b308d9b67d3406%7Cc16a00a3560947c0b2c272d8635e3423%7C0%7C0%7C637741471128880260%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=7d7fI%2BfJsNM7zI3%2F0PYrop1dh8jBs6PnKTj6vql1FEc%3D&reserved=0"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">County</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">
and </span><a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flibrary.municode.com%2Fnc%2Fdurham%2Fcodes%2Fcode_of_ordinances%3FnodeId%3DPTIICOOR_CH46PUSA_ARTIIIFIPRPR_DIV2FIPRCO_S46-84ADCOAM&data=04%7C01%7Chrjones%40dconc.gov%7C33c7eb980d2b453c409f08d9b684e329%7Cc16a00a3560947c0b2c272d8635e3423%7C0%7C0%7C637741504128896454%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=2v%2BNxKHpiV8tiAUuquN%2F8z88F7loVZeiqy7z2RQDxvA%3D&reserved=0"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">City</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">
ordinances and the North Carolina State Fire Prevention Code. This ban is effective immediately and will remain in effect until further notice.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">The local burning ban includes fires used in:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Recreational fires<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Backyard fire pits<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Portable outdoor fireplaces<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Open burning of yard vegetation
<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">The current atmospheric conditions warrant such a ban since Durham and the surrounding region are experiencing very low humidity with no rain forecast in the coming days. These
dry conditions with additional fuel load from the fall foliage combined with light winds make conditions ideal for an out-of-control fire. The releasing of embers by one of these fuel sources are impossible to contain and could result in a fire.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Residents may continue to use contained cooking methods, such as outdoor grills and smokers. “We appreciate residents’ understanding and willingness to protect our community,”
said Durham County Chief Fire Marshal Jason Shepherd. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Residents are also asked to follow these additional fire safety tips:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Always have a charged fire extinguisher in place and ready to use.
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Be mindful when discarding smoking materials.
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Never leave your grill unattended.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Exterior candle luminaries for religious observations should be placed on paved or gravel areas. Electric or battery
luminaries are recommended.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">For more information on the burn ban visit North Carolina Forest Service at
<a name="_Hlk89418227"></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/hrjones/Desktop/News%20Releases/ncforestservice.gov"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk89418227">ncforestservice.gov</span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk89418227"></span></a>. Or contact Jason B. Shepherd, Durham
County Chief Fire Marshal, at </span><a href="mailto:jshepherd@dconc.gov"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">jshepherd@dconc.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> or 919-201-6638 or Jody
Morton, City of Durham Fire Marshal/Assistant Chief at </span><a href="mailto:jody.morton@durhamnc.gov"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">jody.morton@durhamnc.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">
or 919-218-5746.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">###<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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