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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="714" style="width:535.5pt;border-collapse:collapse">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><img width="83" height="119" style="width:.8645in;height:1.2395in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image005.png@01D6932A.4A7BB8A0" alt="DEM-logo-small"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<td width="599" style="width:449.1pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt">
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Impact",sans-serif;color:#00457A">Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#00457A">235 Promenade Street | Providence, RI 02908 | 401.222.4700 |</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0070C0">
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0070C0">
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#00457A">| @RhodeIslandDEM</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0070C0"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT:
</span></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Mike Healey, 401-258-0787<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Friday, September 25, 2020
</span><a href="mailto:Michael.Healey@dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Michael.Healey@dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">
<span style="color:blue"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span lang="DE" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">DEM WARNS RHODE ISLANDERS OF EXTREME FIRE DANGER<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Nine fewer inches of rain have fallen this year than last. The drought has left abundant fuels that are readily available to burn. A fire started in these
conditions is very difficult to control and poses a </span></i><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">significant threat to life and property.<span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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Description automatically generated" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_3"><![endif]><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">PROVIDENCE<b>
–</b> The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is warning Rhode Islanders of extreme fire danger as the drought that has gripped the state, and now the New England region, continues<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">following months of below-average rainfall and above-average temperatures.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;background:white"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">With nine fewer inches of rain this year than last causing extremely dry conditions, DEM is urging residents to take precautions when using charcoal grills
and matches while outdoors, disposing of cigarettes, cutting the grass with gasoline-powered mowers, and doing many other things we often take for granted.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;background:white"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">“This
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">drought has produced fire conditions that have left fuels readily available to burn,” said Olney Knight, DEM’s Forest Fire Program Coordinator. “Once started, fires in these conditions are very difficult
to bring under control and pose a significant threat to life and property.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">DEM asks residents to consider applying the principles of Firewise home maintenance and landscaping to reduce the risk of fire and exposure to their homes and property.
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/forestry/fire-program/homeowners.php"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Click here for more information.</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">DEM requires residents to check with their local fire department for information regarding all outdoor burning activities and required permitting if still being issued.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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Description automatically generated" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2"><![endif]><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">DEM
asks residents to use extra caution when:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="circle">
<li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Throwing lit cigarettes out of car windows – don’t be that person<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Using charcoal grills, matches, and other open flames while outdoors<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Mowing lawns using a gasoline-powered engine – don’t overfill the gas tank and risk a spill<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Cutting or fabricating metal<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Using gas-powered equipment – make sure that spark arrestors have been installed<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Parking in tall grass – don’t do it<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Securing towing safety chains and dragging parts<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Using electrical equipment like extension cords – make sure they’re in good working condition and rated for the application
<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">For information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">. Follow us on Facebook at
</span><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!eOkF3QllJHjzWonWL3jsYw7adxCKIpoGGA_k0cGNtgnAPKRpdCaySHIZiCUug4uzmwQf_9qc$" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM</span> [facebook.com]</a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> or on Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM) for
timely updates.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">###</span></b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:red">CAPTION TO PICTURE ABOVE: DEM firefighters Olney Knight and Greg Rathbun at a prescribed burn in Charlestown in 2018.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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