Berks lifts burn ban following recent rainfall

Apr. 25—After a wet weekend, and with more rain in the forecast, Berks County has lifted a ban on open burning.

The ban on all open outdoor burning was instituted April 16 on the recommendation of the Berks County Department of Emergency Services and the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. It was requested by 19 fire chiefs and fire wardens from across the county.

The request was made because of the dry and dangerous burning conditions and below-average rainfall. The combination of those conditions created a great risk of fire that would require a soaking rain to alleviate the danger, the commissioners said when they instituted the ban.

The recommendation also noted a significant increase in the number and size of brush and wildfires.

During an operations meeting Tuesday, the commissioners agreed to lift the ban. The decision was based on a new recommendation by the county department of emergency services and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The commissioners said they received a message from Stephen Wacker, a district forest fire warden for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, informing the board that he believes now would be the right time to lift the ban with more rain in the forecast.

Open burning is defined as the ignition and subsequent burning of any combustible material, which includes garbage, leaves, twigs, wood, litter, paper, vegetative matter, and any sort of debris, outside, either in a burn barrel, backyard fire pit or on the ground.

Despite the ban being lifted, Wacker urged the public to continue to use caution when conducting open burns.

"It continues to be essential for the public to be careful with fire outdoors," he said. "It is still spring wildfire season and conditions change rapidly. Leaves and grass could dry out enough to burn this week and this will surprise some people."