Carter County Commissioners approved a county-wide, seven-day burn ban at an emergency meeting Wednesday morning.
The ban was approved unanimously, after a recommendation by the Carter County Fire Chiefs Association Board.
“We take their thoughts and recommendations very seriously,” said Kevin Robinson, District 2 Carter County Commissioner.
Lack of moisture, dryness in the air and high wind speeds all contributed several small fires this week, and a 100-acre grass fire that destroyed a vacant home and nearly spread to a residential community in Lake Murray.
All of the fire chiefs are pulled in every week to see what their thoughts are and they want to keep the burn ban, said Robinson.
“If the people abide by the burn ban, it’ll help keep people safe,” he said. “You don’t get as many fires that are out of control. You’re going to have accidental fires, but (they) won’t get out of control.”
To avoid another emergency meeting, the burn ban is renewable and the decision to continue the ban will be revisited during the next commissioners meeting on Monday at the Courthouse Annex.
“Right now there’s no moisture in our immediate forecast,” said Ed Reed, county emergency operations center director. “So until it gets wet enough, they’ll keep it in.”
Equipment using propane for construction-related projects is regarded as a safe exception.
Welding, cutting torch and grinding-related activities also may be conducted. But these activities require the a non-combustible surface of at least 10 by 10 feet wide to cover vegetation, wind speeds must be below 20 miles per hour and someone other than the welder must be posted at the site with a fire extinguisher or pressurized water.
LPG, natural gas grills and charcoal-fire cooking inside a grill are permitted, as long as the cooking is done over a non-flammable surface a minimum of five feet away from any plants.
Camp fires are not permitted.
Violators of the ban may be subject to a $1,000 fine or imprisonment.
“Nobody wants to write anybody a ticket or send anybody to jail, but we’re working with a real serious issue here,” Reed said.
