Fire Marshal: Concern About Fires During Ongoing Drought

COLUMBUS, Ohio (News Talk 1480 WHBC) – The open burning ban in effect for Carroll, Tuscarawas and 22 other counties in southern and east-central Ohio is historic.

Other than the traditional Springtime ban, the State Fire Marshal’s Office has never issued such a ban.

Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon says one big concern is that most of the fire departments in the 24 rural counties are made up of volunteers.

And he wants to make sure those departments are prepared to respond to field fires.

Reardon also wants fire chiefs to look at how water is hauled to various sites around their jurisdictions.

That’s given that an ample supply of water is lacking much of the area covered by the ban

Disregarding the burn ban can result in a first-degree misdemeanor charge.