Fire Marshal Orders Burning Ban in Drought-Afflicted Counties Including Carroll, Tuscarawas

COLUMBUS, Ohio (News Talk 1480 WHBC) – With extreme drought conditions, the State Fire Marshal is prohibiting open burning in 24 Ohio counties including Carroll and Tuscarawas.

The order covers open fires, use of fireworks and even campfires.

According to the latest U.S Drought Monitor, extreme southern Carroll County is in extreme drought, while the southeast corner of Tuscarawas County is at “exceptional”, the highest classification of drought.

Here’s more from State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon:

The Burn on Open Burning ordered Sept. 6, 2024, includes the following Ohio counties: Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Fairfield, Fayette, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Jefferson, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Ross, Scioto, Tuscarawas, Vinton, and Washington. Additional counties may be added upon designation of “Extreme Drought” or “Exceptional Drought” conditions issued by NOAA and/or the USDA within such counties or added by written directive of the State Fire Marshal.

Examples of outdoor activities prohibited by this order in the ban area 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), and using spark causing devices for recreational purposes.