Burning permits now required

Citizens are now required to obtain a burning permit from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry before conducting any burning within 500 feet of woodlands, grasslands or forestlands.

‘Although our level of wildfire activity is moderate and manageable, we’re concerned about the potential for high wildfire danger due to the extremely dry conditions and the effect it’s having on forest fuels as we move into the fall,’ said state forester Steve Scott. ‘We want to be proactive by helping citizens determine when and where it’s safe to burn and when it’s not.

‘Considering the forecast for continued hot, dry conditions and little chance of rainfall, we will be issuing burning permits on a very limited basis, to be evaluated county by county and considering local conditions. We are taking these steps to help undercut the threat of wildfires caused by debris burning before they happen, and to protect lives and property.’

Typically, burning permits are required from Oct. 15 to May 15 each year. The burning permit requirement is expected to remain in force through May 15, 2008, when official wildfire season ends.

Since Jan. 1, nearly 2,700 fires have burned an estimated 37,000 acres in Tennessee, well above average for what is normally seen in a 12-month period.

Burning without a permit is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and/or a fine not to exceed $50. For more information, visit the Division of Forestry’s wildfire safety Web site at www.burnsafetn.org.