TUNKHANNOCK, WYOMING COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — With the long stretch of dry weather we're experiencing across our state, officials are issuing a simple warning: Don't burn.
Wind and low humidity are the perfect conditions for wildfires. With very little rainfall and lots of wind, wildfires are a major cause for concern.
"If it's a pile of leaves burning, all it's gonna take is a little bit of a breeze and those flames are gonna spread very quickly," said Ralph Schwartz, Wyoming County Emergency Management Director.
In Wyoming County, officials have issued a burn ban. This includes burning leaves, debris, and garbage.
Bonfires are also banned. Propane grills and fire rings are allowed. The same goes for charcoal grills.
"But for everything else, we are asking them not to burn even in a burn barrel," stated Schwartz.
DCNR announces campfire banned until further notice
Similar burn bans are in effect in other places, like Francis Slocum State Park in Luzerne County.
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is prohibiting bonfires in its state parks and forests.
"The fire danger is high in a good part of the state right now," added Bob Kurilla, Public Information Officer, DCNR PA Bureau of Forestry Incident Management Team
Wildfires can be difficult for fire crews to control and extinguish.
"It can take anywhere from hours to days," continued Schwartz.
And these avoidable fires can put a strain on volunteer fire departments.
"Staffing levels are down in volunteer fire departments and what this does is it takes those resources and ties them up on an incident that if people weren't burning, wouldn't have happened," explained Schwartz.
While the fall weather might make you want to sit around a campfire, experts say, you should be cautious.
"It's nice that folks are out enjoying the nice weather, but once again just be careful outdoors," mentioned Kurilla.
"Heed the warning, and don't burn," noted Schwartz.
The state park and forest ban is in effect until further notice, and the one in Wyoming County will be in place for the next 30 days.
Lackawanna County also issued a burn ban Thursday. Anyone violating these bans could face fines.
