Ban on Open Burning Expanded

As parts of the state continue to see extremely dry conditions, a Ban on Open Burning, first ordered on September 6, 2024, by Ohio State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon, has been extended and expanded to include additional counties.

As of September 20, the Ban on Open Burning includes the following counties: Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Champaign, Clark, Clinton, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Gallia, Green, Guernsey, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Licking, Logan, Madison, Meigs, Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Ross, Tuscarawas, Union, Vinton, Warren, and Washington.

Examples of activities prohibited by this Order in the ban area include those involving the lighting or maintaining of an open fire, such as:

Prohibited Activities:

• Any open burning of trash, debris, waste, combustibles, leaf piles, or similar vegetation
• Campfires and bonfires
• Throwing down or discarding lit or smoldering material, such as matches or cigarettes
• Using or discharging any type of fireworks
• Live-fire training events
• Flame effect(s) based displays or exhibitions, including sky lanterns and cold spark machines
• Using spark- or heat-producing devices for recreational purposes

Acceptable open flame-related activities include indoor cooking, outdoor cooking with electric stoves/cooking elements or propane/liquid fueled cooking as permitted in this Order, and use of non-flame-based heating or electrical devices.

To read a FAQ from the State Fire Marshal's office about the burn ban, visit bit.ly/3TCnZXL.