KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee is now in fall fire season, which is when conditions are drier, making it likelier for a fire to start. However, a fire can start at any time of year.
From Oct. 15 through May 15, people need a debris burn permit from the Division of Forestry to burn outside, but some counties require them year-round.
"In Knox County, we supersede that through air quality management," said Jeff Bagwell, the public information officer for Rural Metro Fire. "They require you to have a burn permit every day, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, no matter what. In Knox County, right now, nobody's getting a burn permit."
Knox County, like some other counties in Tennessee, is under a burn ban which means no outside burning is allowed. Bagwell says people need to remember the burn ban is for everyone, and they must follow it.
"People become complacent," said Bagwell. "And they say first, it won't happen to me. Second of all is, I'm going to stay with it. Well, something always happens to pull them away for just a minute."
Another reason burn bans are important is because if someone sets a fire outside, even if it's controlled, the wind blowing can quickly spread a fire.
"People have to understand that the wind can catch anything," said Bagwell. "We've had two fires that have resulted or started from burn ban barrels. And these are in a contained barrel. And you think, 'Well, how in the world could they get out?' There's holes around on the side where the idea is that you want air to come into the burn barrel. But also things come out of that burn barrel. And that's what starts things on fire because the grass, the leaves, are so dry that it won't take a second for it to ignite."
Another issue can be something as small as a cigarette. Bagwell says if it's still lit and thrown on the side of the road, it could start a fire so people should make sure anything that's burning is completely put out and properly disposed of.
Bagwell says he spoke to the Division of Forestry on Monday and they said nine days of straight rain would be needed to end the current drought, but that much rain is not in the forecast. He says he also spoke to the National Weather Service who say the current drought conditions are the worst they've seen since they've begun recording.
He says many people may think of burning leaves, but composting or calling someone to collect them are safer options. He also said leaves release a noxious fume when they're burned.
With Thanksgiving coming up, Bagwell has a tip for those who might be deep-frying a turkey. He says they should be fried away from your home and on concrete.