All articles tagged with #burn ban
Wildfires burning across more than 250,000 acres forced evacuations and caused power outages in the Spokane area as Washington Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency and burn ban; no injuries or fatalities reported.
Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a statewide wildfire emergency in Washington and ordered a burn ban statewide through Sept. 30 amid drought, high heat and strong winds as wildfires continue to burn across the state, including the Little Giant Fire.
Henry County officials have enacted one of the metro area’s strictest burn bans, prohibiting any outdoor burning and effectively banning grilling to prevent wildfires. Violators could face citations or fines, with the move part of a regional response as fires threaten both rural and urban areas in Georgia.
More than 600,000 acres have burned across Nebraska in multiple wildfires, led by the Morrill Fire at about 460,000 acres with one fatality, and the Cottonwood Fire over 100,000; none are contained as high winds and dry conditions persist. The governor declared an emergency and mobilized the National Guard, with federal incident managers now leading the two largest fires and a statewide burn ban in place through March 27.
Central New York is now at high risk for wildfires due to ongoing dry and windy conditions, with nearly 40 counties affected. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued a high fire danger warning, and a statewide burn ban is in effect until November 30. The region has experienced significantly less rainfall than usual, exacerbating the fire risk. Firefighters are currently battling several large wildfires, including the largest in the state since 2008, with tragic consequences, such as the death of a young parks employee.
North Carolina has issued a burn ban for 14 counties, including Henderson, due to recent wildfires. Violators of the ban could face a $100 citation and court costs, as well as potential liability for damages caused by the fire. The ban aims to prevent brush fires and urges caution even with small sources of ignition, such as cigarettes. The Poplar Drive fire, believed to be caused by burning embers, has burned 431 acres and is still only 5% contained.
Buncombe County in North Carolina has declared a state of emergency and expanded a burn ban due to extreme fire risk caused by severe drought conditions. The ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including fire pits and campfires, except for food preparation on outdoor grills. Several wildfires have already occurred in the region, with homes being evacuated and structures damaged. County officials are urging residents to develop safety plans and stay informed through the Code Red text messaging system. The ban on open burning has also been extended to multiple counties in the area. The state of emergency allows for coordinated emergency response efforts with various agencies and organizations.
The North Carolina Forest Service has issued a burn ban for 14 counties in Western North Carolina due to severe drought conditions and increasing wildfire activity. The ban prohibits all open burning and the issuance of new permits. Violators may face fines. Buncombe County has also implemented a burning ban. Two significant wildfires are currently burning in the region. The Division of Air Quality has issued a Code Red for Henderson and Cherokee counties due to smoke from ongoing fires.
Officials have issued a voluntary evacuation notice for East Poplar Drive in Edneyville, Henderson County, due to a growing brush fire named the Poplar Fire. The fire has spread to an estimated 250-300 acres within 24 hours, prompting a burn ban in the area. Residents without a place to go can seek shelter at the Fruitland Bible College cafeteria.
The State Fire Marshal's Office in Louisiana has modified the statewide burn ban, allowing individual parishes to opt out, fire chiefs to grant burn permissions, and certain live fire training to resume with written permission. The modified order goes into effect on September 29, 2023. However, open flames in fire pits, campfires, barrels, bonfires, and burn piles are still prohibited. Outdoor cooking should be conducted with safety measures, and activities near dried grass should be avoided to prevent fires. The burn ban order will be reconsidered on a weekly basis.
A man in Independence, Louisiana, has been charged with fire raising and violating the burn ban after admitting to burning trash on his property, which led to a wildfire that destroyed 172 acres. Firefighters, along with multiple agencies, battled the flames for hours before gaining control. Authorities have emphasized the consequences of violating the burn ban and urged the public to report any forestry-related crimes.
Louisiana is facing an unprecedented number of wildfires, with 441 recorded in August alone, leading to multiple evacuations and the implementation of a burn ban. The state is experiencing severe heat and drought conditions, with a significant portion of the state in extreme or exceptional drought. Governor John Bel Edwards has called the situation alarming and urged citizens to adhere to the burn ban. The National Guard is assisting in firefighting efforts, and federal assistance has been requested. No fatalities have been reported, but the wildfires continue to pose a dangerous threat.
A man from Rosepine, Louisiana, has been arrested for starting a large woods fire in the Providence area, resulting in the destruction of two mobile homes, significant timber acreage, and the mandatory evacuation of the area. The suspect was found burning a trash pile in violation of a statewide burn ban and has been charged with illegal burning, fire raising on lands of another by criminal negligence, and negligent arson. He remains in custody with a bond set at $13,000.
The owner of a property in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, who had hired a contractor to clear the land for a rice and crawfish farm, has been issued a cease and desist order by the State Fire Marshal for violating the state burn ban. Investigators found several burn piles ignited on the property, which was in violation of the ban. The landowner, Cody Fortier, is the owner of Rigid Constructors, and the contractor had obtained permission from fire officials to burn the cleared brush.
Beauregard Parish in Louisiana has been ravaged by wildfires in the three weeks since a burn ban was issued. The extreme heat has turned much of the landscape into kindling, resulting in approximately 10,000 acres being affected. Residents on Neale Oil Field Road were forced to evacuate, and fire departments from across the region have come to assist. The fire is currently about 60% contained on the south side and 25% contained on the north side. The Department of Agriculture and Forestry and Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness have contributed helicopters and aircraft to drop water over the blaze. Authorities urge the public to continue following the burn ban and to only report flames, not smoke, to conserve resources.