Burn ban to begin in Lebanon County Thursday as dry conditions in area likely to continue
A burn ban for all of Lebanon County will start Thursday as dry conditions continue with little rain in this week's forecast.
Lebanon County commissioners Tuesday morning signed a resolution for a 30-day burn ban to be put in place starting 12 p.m. June 8. Commissioners cited severe dry conditions that will remain for the foreseeable future, resulting in "a much higher potential for wildfires."
The ban prohibits open burning, which commissioners defined as ignition of combustible materials outdoors either in a burn barrel or on the ground. Combustible materials include garbage, leaves, twigs, liter and paper.
"The use of propane or gas stoves, charcoal briquette grills, or the use of tobacco in any form is not covered under county burn bans," officials said in the resolution. "Campfires are allowed in the fire rings that confine and contain the campfire in a designated state, federal, or Department of Environmental Protection licensed campground."
Officials said there has been an increase in uncontrolled wildfires in the area, requiring "significant fire department resources to extinguish."
Anyone who violates the ban will face a fine of up to $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second and $300 for a third or subsequent offense, the resolution states.
York and Adams county officials have already instituted burn bans as early as Monday, with officials expressing concern about the high wildfire potential and the threat to residents' life and property.
Most of the rest of the week should be dry with periods of light showers as early as Thursday, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tom Kines said. These showers could also contain isolated thunderstorms, gusty winds and hail.
"There maybe a shower in some spots, but it's not going to amount to much and certainly won't help us any," he said.
Last month broke a record for the driest May in central Pennsylvania, with only 0.19 inches of rain falling in Harrisburg. The old record was 0.29 inches set in 1902.
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There are indications that the area could receive showers that produce a half an inch of rain next week. Kines said that would by no means end the drought, but would help the situation.
"We certainly don't want an inch, inch and a half of rain in the matter of a few hours like we get in thunderstorms sometimes," he said. "As hard as the ground is right now, a lot of that water is going to run off into the streets and sewer drains. A lot of it doesn't soak in."
The Department of Environmental Protection has not listed the area in a drought watch as of Tuesday afternoon.
Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on Twitter at @DAMattToth.
This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Burn ban to begin Thursday in Lebanon County as dry conditions continue
