Another day, another brush fire.

If it seems like we are reporting an area brush fire nearly every day, we are. It’s as often as we are reporting the wind and fire weather advisory.

Many people just overlook this public service announcement. For the most part, the photos look the same — drab brown brush and a fire equipment.

It’s those drab fine fuels that are the most dangerous.

Brush fires can spread literally like the wind — each one with its own challenges and cost.

You might not notice if a small field is lost, but you should.

The price tag might grab your attention though, because it’s our taxes that are paying for these accidental or negligent acts that cause fires.

Yes, each fire has a has a price tag. It’s the time of the volunteer firemen who are risking injury and sacrificing family time and work time.

It’s the cost of equipment, training and gas to get to the fire.

It’s our most valuable natural resources — water and land.

A mulch fire has been burning in Lehigh Township since Saturday. Volunteers have been on scene round the clock and have used more than 500,000 gallons of water in the fight.

When needed, paid firefighters get involved and then the price tag goes up.

Start with the equipment. An air tanker plane costs $65 a minute, according to Jake Novitsky, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources fire forester for Schuylkill County. It’s not unheard of to have 30 water drops. Planes often come from Hazleton, so the minutes tick by.

Helicopters are $30 to $55 per minute and usually come from a station in Penn Forest.

That price doesn’t include gas and the material sprayed on the fire.

Heavy equipment, such as excavators, could be anywhere from $190 to $600 an hour, plus the cost of hauling the equipment there.

If the Pennsylvania fire warden is needed, it’s another $17 an hour. The crew might have 10 to 20 firefighters, each earning $14 per hour.

Fire personnel from DCNR come at a rate of $45 an hour. At the height of the fire, they could work 16 hours or more before the next crew takes over.

It adds up fast, Novitsky said.

We can’t forget about the wildfire that consumed the Blue Mountain in November, burning for more than a week and destroying nearly 600 acres. That fire cost the state $600,000, Novitsky said

Last fall, a fire in Carbon County burned 4-plus acres and cost nearly $27,000.

Add in the countless hours by volunteer firefighters and the outpouring of support from the community. According to the U.S. Drought monitor, most of our area is under moderate to severe drought conditions. We might like those sunny days, but each one increases the risk of fine fuels becoming bone dry and ready to ignite.

Novitsky said last year was the worst fire season in the last 30 years.

“If we don’t keep getting rain every two or three days, we are going to be in trouble,” Novitsky said.

Speaking of trouble, those who start fires can be charged for the cost to fight the fire and even get jail time.

The punishment depends on the circumstances. Malicious intent, risking a catastrophe and arson are felony charges, which will carry a state prison sentence.

The least penalty would be a landowner receiving a letter in the mail detailing costs. Payment plans can be set up for reimbursement.

“We take it very seriously,” Novitsky said.

Firefighters do understand how much homeowners want to get outside and clean up the leaves on those early spring days. “A lot of people want to make their yard look good,” Novitsky said. They set a seemingly harmless fire and “before you know it, it’s off to the races,” he said.

Novitsky recommended people check if they can burn in their municipality. And check the weather forecast. Wait for a rainy day if you must burn.

If you have the misfortune to start a brush fire, Novitsky said to call 9-1-1 right away to get people who are trained to extinguish it.

Certainly it’s embarrassing, but it will get worse it people try to put it out themselves. It could spread to the house or someone could get hurt.

Remember that it’s never just another brush fire. The costs — and risks — could be much more.

MARTA GOUGER | mgouger@tnonline.com