COLUMBUS, Ohio — One week after the state fire marshal ordered a regional ban on open burning for 24 counties, it was announced that the ban was extended and expanded to several additional counties.
The ban impacts any county in Ohio identified by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or United States Department of Agriculture as being in the "extreme drought" or "exceptional drought" categories.
The newly added counties are Franklin, Lawrence, Licking, Madison and Noble. Scioto County was removed.
All of the counties impacted include Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Licking, Madison, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Ross, Tuscarawas, Vinton and Washington.
Additional counties may be added if their drought conditions worsen.
Examples of outdoor activities prohibited by this order include the following:
- Lighting or maintaining a fire of any type at any location,
- Smoking (including cigarettes or similar devices, and as part of a cooking process),
- Non-electric cooking (regardless of fuel source),
- Using or discharging any type of fireworks,
- Throwing down/discarding lighted or smoldering material (including matches or cigarettes),
- Campfires, bonfires, live fire training events, flame effect(s) based displays or exhibitions (including sky lanterns and cold spark machines),
- Using spark-causing devices for recreational purposes.
“Fire safety is a responsibility we all share,” said Ohio State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon. “It’s critical that Ohioans understand and appreciate the significant risks associated with fires, especially during the current drought conditions. Together we can protect our communities and environment.”
Residents can take measures to prevent accidental wildfires including, avoiding burning trash and debris, keeping grass trimmed, not discarding cigarettes and other smoking materials outside, postponing fireworks and avoiding open cooking fires or campfires. Additionally, farmers should regularly check their equipment for any irregularities that can lead to a brush or crop field fire.
Anyone who sees any signs of wildfire should call their local fire department immediately to report it.
