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TID smudging was illegal, says state By DANI DODGE TALENT -- State environmental officials say roaring fires set in 75 smudge pots by the Talent Irrigation District last month were illegal. The April 21 fires created a dense black mushroom-shaped plume of smoke was visible for hours throughout the Rogue Valley. The Department of Environmental Quality is sending a report to the department's enforcement division, which will assess a fine -- yet to be determined -- for the violation. "Burning petroleum products is prohibited anywhere in the state," said Anna Kemmerer, environmental specialist with DEQ. "And the burning of any prohibited material in the state of Oregon is against the law." TID manager Greg Loper, who started his new job Wednesday, said the district was trying to clear some diseased pear trees on its property at Culver and Hartley roads. Management didn't want to spill the diesel fuel from the smudge pots, so workers were told to burn it. "This incident was a real unfortunate isolated incident. Most of the people here at TID are real sensitive to environmental issues," Loper said. A TID worker lit the fires at about 8 a.m. on April 21. Fire District 5 firefighters spotted the blaze, as did a number of motorists on Interstate 5. Several dozen people reported the fire to authorities. The dampers on the smudge pots were wide open and some of the pots shot flames several feet high. After a preliminary determination that the burn was illegal, Fire District 5 firefighters and a TID worker shut off the fires. Orchardists use smudge pots during early spring cold snaps to warm the air around their trees. The only time that orchardists can legally burn their smudge pots is when their plants need protection. Kemmerer said she determined there was no agricultural need for the burning. This is the first time she's dealt with a burn of this type, she said, and did not know the extent of fines that TID will face. After stopping the fires, TID pumped the remaining diesel from the smudge pots and disposed of it with an oil recovery company. "All those smudge pots will be gone real soon," Loper said. "I'll be sure of that." Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA