For many of us, spring cleaning includes cleaning out our yards and ditches. Save yourself money and headache by not burning ditches. Ditch fires can cause costly damage (often thousands of dollars) to electric poles and fiber, for which you are ultimately responsible. Keep in mind that out-of-control burns that affect fiber and electric poles impact not only your service but that of your neighbors. Each year, the cooperative faces costly repairs to our electric and fiber plant due to damage from ditch burns. Consider alternatives for clearing out your property this spring—mowing, cutting, and possibly even renting a grazing goat herd to do the work. Even the most controlled burns can quickly become out of control, leaving you with damage and costs you did not anticipate.