PRINCETON — Bureau County firefighters have been busy this year with brush, grass and field fires.

Diana Stiles, director of the Bureau County Emergency Telephone System Board (BuEComm), said Bureau County firefighters have responded to a total of 44 brush, grass and field fires so far this year, with seven of those fires happening in January, five in February, 28 in March and four in April, as of noon Wednesday.

Stiles reminded Bureau County residents it’s important for them to contact their local fire department and BuEComm before starting any controlled burn so emergency officials know of their plans. Residents will be asked to provide their name, the location of the planned burn, contact information for the person watching the fire, and when they plan to start the open burn. Also, residents will be asked to contact their fire department and BuEComm when the fire is completed, Stiles said.