Ohio State Fire Marshall removes ban on open burning

Working in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon has issued an order lifting a Ban on Open Burning that was initially ordered on Sept. 6, 2024, in response to extremely dry conditions in much of the state.

While drought conditions persist in parts of the state, the onset of moderate fall temperatures and atmospheric conditions and recent sustained rains that have fallen across the state have provided enough moisture to create a significant and sustained reduction in wildfire fuel loads during the first part of October. Most importantly, those reduced wildfire fuel loads are not projected to increase back to the dangerous levels observed in September for the foreseeable future. Specifically, broad areas of the state that received measurable amounts of rain have seen grass return to green, and heavier wildland fuels like larger sticks and logs have had the opportunity to soak up moisture, substantially lessening the risks of uncontainable wildfires.

The Ban on Open Burning that was in place for the past month relied heavily on the US Drought Monitor , which focused on overall long-term drought conditions. An additional and proven index to examine regarding drought-related wildfire risks is the Keetch Byram Drought Index (KBDI), which links precipitation effects to wildfire fuel availability and is founded in the concept that fuels with less moisture burn more actively and fuels with more moisture burn with less intensity, or potentially not at all.

The hot, dry summer and early fall conditions led to extreme and exceptional drought conditions as noted in the US Drought Monitor, as well as very high KBDI values, meaning wildfire fuels were exceptionally dry. This created many problems related to wildfire dangers: grass was withering and dry and very receptive to ignition; large logs were very dry and ready to burn with extreme intensity; and organic materials on and in the ground had very little moisture.

The early October rain provided enough moisture across many parts of the state to allow the KBDI and wildfire moisture levels to recover to a more average range for this time of year. Additionally, the cooler, fall-like weather that has moved into the state has a less dramatic drying influence on fuels and has also helped fuels recover from the extreme drought conditions.

“Factors we look at are the burnability, or how easy it is to ignite those fuels that are on the ground,” said State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon. “When those fuels are drier, they will obviously ignite faster. When there is more moisture, that changes their ignitability quite a bit. There’s a lot that goes into this, but it simply boils down to how easy is it to start a fire on the ground.”

While the Fire Marshal’s Ban on Open Burning has been lifted, if drought conditions worsen and KBDI values return to concerning levels, the ban could be reinstated in areas of concern.

For those who want to burn during unrestricted hours, the Division of State Fire Marshal encourages them to do so cautiously and to have a source of water and tools on hand in case they are needed. Fires should never be left unattended.

“Think about the ground conditions where you’re at, if the ground is very dry, any fire you have could spread quickly and easily,” Reardon said. “We ask all Ohioans to be careful, think before starting a fire, and to be fire safe.”

“ Ohio law dictates that most outdoor burning is prohibited in unincorporated areas from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. during October and November ,” said ODNR Division of Forestry Fire Prevention Manager Aaron Kloss. “In addition, make sure you are aware of any other open burning restrictions that might be in place, including Ohio EPA or any local fire department regulations, and be sure to never burn on dry and windy days, even during an unrestricted time.”

The Ohio Department of Natural Resource’s normal annual burning restriction is found in the ORC 1503.18c and prohibits most open burning between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. in unincorporated areas in Ohio. This restriction is in place every fall from October 1 to November 30, and every spring from March 1 to May 31.

Any local burn bans put into place by local jurisdictions will remain in effect unless lifted by that jurisdiction.

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