Drought Conditions Generate Burn Ban

SOUTH ZANESVILLE, Ohio – The State Fire Marshal has placed a ban on open burning for most of our viewing area in response to the sustained drought conditions that are taking place.

South Zanesville Fire Department Chief Russell Taylor explained how critical the conditions must be for the ban to be put into place.

“The burn ban was put into place because we haven’t had any rain. We’re way low. We’re considered a national disaster for drought in the area. Right now, that basically boils down to there is zero burning outside. No open flames of any kind can happen right now,” Taylor said.

Outdoor activities that are included in the ban are: any non-electric cooking, holding bonfires and campfires, releasing fireworks and sky lanterns, and even smoking.

“Right now as dry as it is, if you notice, even when you even walk across your yard, it feels crunchy under your feet,” Taylor said. “Any kind of little flame or anything can set that on fire. If we got any wind, it’s going to spread so fast, before we’ll get there it will be way out of control.”

Taylor noted that there have been a few recent, drought-related fires and each incident usually draws a response from multiple fire departments, which ties-up a lot of resources.