Firepit ban right now?

[AprilLizbeth]

Shoot, here it poured for hours on New Years at about 2am. I couldn't sleep it was so loud!

 

[truck1]

Shoot, here it poured for hours on New Years at about 2am. I couldn't sleep it was so loud!

My husband has replied to this but I wanted to add my 2 cents worth.... The signs I saw stated no open fires due to the "dry" weather. There was nothing mentioned about the fire pits. However, after all the rain we had from Dec. 13 til we left on January 1, I think nothing there is dry now.

Even though there has been a lot of rain in some areas, the low humidity and cool/very cold air combined with winds can and will make for very dangerous fire conditions.Theres still a lot of very dry tinder on the ground, and a lot of dryed out vegetation that takes a while to rehydrate.The cool dry air drys everything out even faster than if it was summer.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

After watching the pine straw on the site float on 2 inches of water just 2 days prior, I figured we were safe. We had a fully compliant covered fire pit sitting in the middle of a concrete pad also.

 

[truck1]

Right now the drought index which measures the amount of moisture in the soil,and the Orange County average is 316 out of a possible 800.800 is a desert and 0 would be a swamp.
The area that Disney is in, is well over 400 and climbing. 3-400 is concerning and 400 and above is in the bears watching area.
For most of the people whom use common sense, such as approved fire pits and screens, its not an issue. Its the idiots that think that the laws of nature dont apply to them, that keeps my job secure.

Heres a simple test to see how much water was retained from New Years.Simply walk out into non irrigated grass.The type that Disney wouldnt water, look at 2 things.
1. The color of the grass.If its brown or yellow, theres little to no moisture.
2.If it crunches under your feet, its dryed out and youd need to be carefull around it.

Chris
Driver Engineer Ladder 511

 

[AprilLizbeth]

Thanks Chris! Thats a very easy way to determine things. We will check around our site when we arrive.

 

[des1954]

It doesn't matter what the conditions are around your site. There are simply NO open fires allowed at FtW. There haven't been for years.

There are over 800 camping sites (not counting cabins) at FtW. All it takes is one person who is careless about an open fire and POOF! Now....if that were to happen...there would be a lot of people who could lose their expensive equipment - not to mention their lives - as there is no way the Fort could be evacuated fast enough in the case of a wildfire. That doesn't even give count to the people who might be in parks at the time of said wildfire.

Just don't do it!!! The rules are in place for a reason!

I can't believe this is being discussed other than "are open fires allowed or not"!

 

[AprilLizbeth]

Whoa sorry Debbie.

 

[truck1]

Thanks Chris! Thats a very easy way to determine things. We will check around our site when we arrive.

Welcome.

It doesn't matter what the conditions are around your site. There are simply NO open fires allowed at FtW. There haven't been for years.

There are over 800 camping sites (not counting cabins) at FtW. All it takes is one person who is careless about an open fire and POOF! Now....if that were to happen...there would be a lot of people who could lose their expensive equipment - not to mention their lives - as there is no way the Fort could be evacuated fast enough in the case of a wildfire. That doesn't even give count to the people who might be in parks at the time of said wildfire.

Just don't do it!!! The rules are in place for a reason!

I can't believe this is being discussed other than "are open fires allowed or not"!

Easy.
My posts were directed at the people who mentioned the amount of rain,pointing out some misonceptions.
Keep in mind a few things.
First, these are not Disneys rules. The burning rules are set in effect by the Florida Division of Forestry, and Reedy Creek Emergency Services, which is the WDW Fire Dept follow them.At any given time, RCFDs Fire Marshall can make them stricter, but never more lax then the state allows.This is due to the fact that the Disney campsites do not meet the specified set backs for open burning.Plain and simple.
Second. At any time the State Fire Marshall or the Division of Forestry can and has issued a statewide burn ban and Disney will follow it.This will include approved burn pits such as mentioned above with screen protectors, and fireworks. Remember several years ago, around the 4th of July, there was a statewide burn ban,and the Epcot Illuminations show went on, but there was big gaps in the show where fireworks/fire effects were supposed to be. The MK and MGM ( at the time it was still MGM) didnt have any fireworks at all, and Fantasmic went on without the fire effects.
Third. If the dry weather keeps up, with little to no rain, it wont take much to push the area in to a total burn ban.The area is only 200 or so points away.Were climbing on the average of 5-10 ponts per day.
Fourth. Theres 2 fire stations manned 24/7 within 5-7 minutes of the Fort.Both have brush trucks and both have class A engines.Theres 2 more stations with more equipment and water 10-15 minutes away.Thats a National Recomendation.Plus mutual aid from Orange County and Osceola Counties is 20 minutes away with 2 more brush trucks, that are 3 x the size of Reedy Creeks,and 4 more engine companies.The Fort is very well protected firewise. They have to be to keep their insurance premiums down.

 

[des1954]

Truck1 - My comment was not directed at you at all. As a matter of fact, your comments further support the "no fire" rule.

As far as how protected the Fort is in the event of a fire (and I'm sure I don't need to tell you this) just think how quickly some of the "controlled burns" set by firemen have gotten away from them - and these are the trained experts. I recall several times I-75 in Sarasota County & I-4 in Polk County were completely shut down due to "controlled burns" going out of control.

It's been so cold & dry here lately that the moisture has literally been sucked out of ground cover and leaves on trees. Couple that with even a light wind and errant sparks flying and FtW instantly becomes a tinder-box! Don't forget that wildfire generates it's own weather/wind system and will rapidly fan the flames.

To be honest - I'm surprised there has never been a major fire at FtW. Glad, but surprised. I'm also glad that State regulations out-trump RCFD regulations - which for those who are not aware - RCFD is a Disney-made regulatory commission to govern WDW.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

We had professional oversight of our fire while at the Fort.