CENTRALIA — Due to warm weather in the forecast this coming weekend, the City of Centralia has announced an additional burn weekend has been added to the schedule.

The extra times for burning will be from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. both Saturday, February 18th and Sunday, February 19th.

It is legal to burn landscape waste only. Landscape waste is defined as being dry leaves, trimmings from trees and shrubs, tree limbs and branches, vines and the like.

Landscape waste does not include grass clippings, green trimmings or branches or wet leaves.

It is important to remember that all fires must be attended by a responsible adult. The residents of the City are reminded that due to asthma and other illnesses, injuries, or disease some people in the community are adversely affected by smoke.

All residents are urged to utilize the leaf removal and yard waste collection services provided by the City to the fullest extent possible and to burn landscape waste in such a manner to create as little smoke as possible.

Any open burning may be halted and extinguished by the City Manager, Fire Chief, Police Chief or their agents if they determine that the burning is being conducted in an illegal or unsafe manner, or unsafe place, or constitutes a danger to surrounding property or nearby structures, or which is creating unreasonable quantities of smoke.

Open burning may not take place on any City street, roadway, alley or manhole cover. Burning in ditches is allowed but it is recommended that the leaves are not stockpiled in the ditch too many days prior to the burn in order to not impede drainage of storm water.