Lebanon County Commissioners on Friday morning approved a 30-day ban on open burning due to ongoing dry conditions in the region.
The burn ban is set to take effect at noon on Sunday, Oct. 27, and will expire at noon on Tuesday, Nov. 26, unless the county extends or cancels the ban in the meantime.
According to the resolution, “severe dry conditions have existed for a substantial period of time and are forecasted to remain dry for the foreseeable future, resulting in a much higher potential for wildfires.” Consequently, the resolution states, “there has been an increase in uncontrolled wildfires requiring significant fire department resources to extinguish.”
County officials took action Friday with “the support of the majority of the municipal fire chiefs … to reduce the threat to life and property,” it further explains.
“Open burning” is defined as the ignition and subsequent burning of any combustible material, including garbage, leaves, grass, twigs, litter, paper, vegetative matter involved with land clearing, or any sort of debris, according to a county press release. The order prohibits any outdoor burning, either in a burn barrel or on the ground.
The order does not restrict the use of propane and gas stoves, charcoal briquette grills, or tobacco in any form. Campfires are allowed in fire rings that confine and contain the flames in any designated state, federal, or Department of Environmental Protection licensed campground.
The order will be enforced by police, with violators charged with a summary crime and, upon conviction, fines of not more than $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second offense, and $300 for the third offense.
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