Fall is here, and that means it’s time to get those rakes out. But before you do, check the wind speed, brush up on those burning regulations and make sure to call the Village’s burn line at 835-4357 to get a burn permit. If you don’t and your neighbors call the fire department, you might end up getting a citation from the police department.

Caledonia Fire Chief Dick Roeder said one of the biggest mistakes people make is not waiting long enough for their leaves to dry out.

“If a leaf falls off that day on to your property, you probably shouldn’t be burning it that day,” Roeder said. “You’ve got to let the leaves dry out.”

Roeder explained that burning dry leaves and clippings produces less smoke than if the leaves and clippings are wet.

Here are some other tips Roeder offered up:

• Call the burn line every time you get ready to burn. The system is automated. So they’ll ask you if you understand the burning ordinance, your name, address and what you are burning. You may not end up talking to a live person.
• Large bonfires are prohibited and those are defined in the ordinance.
• You can’t burn construction materials.
• If you run a landscaping business, you can’t bring material from the job site to your property to burn. You are only allowed to burn the lawn refuse that is generated on your property.
• Be a good neighbor. If your neighbors’ house is five feet from property and your neighbor is home, don’t burn right by their open window. And if you are being a good neighbor, you don’t generate lots of smoke so that people think your garage is on fire.

For further information, consult the burning ordinance above or call the Caledonia Fire Department at 835-2050.