City initiates burn ban in parks

Citing moderate forecast fire danger, the city’s Parks and Recreation Department has issued a burn ban in city parks, effective today. Low levels of rainfall and consistently high temperatures mean the city is at greater risk of wildfire, according to an Oct. 6 memo from PARD Director Kimberly McNeeley. The memo points to an ordinance that allows the city to temporarily prohibit the building of fires and grilling in city parks, greenbelts and preserves when the threat of wildfire has increased. McNeeley notes that if conditions lessen, the department will terminate the restrictions.