SEVIER COUNTY, Tenn. — A burn ban has been issued for Sevier County and the cities of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, according to the Tennessee Wildland Fire.
A burn ban forbids any open-air fire, including:
- Leaves and brush
- Fence rows and ditch banks
- Construction debris boards, plywood, decking, cardboard, etc.
- Fields and grassland
- Gardens
- Wooded areas
- Campfires and cooking fires
- Charcoal or wood-fired grills (does not include natural or propane gas-fired grills)
- Burn barrels
- Air curtain destructors
- Fireworks
The burn ban will be enforced by local law enforcement officers. According to officials, Violation of the ban is considered reckless burning and is punishable as a Class A misdemeanor.
Violators of the ban could face a Class A misdemeanor charge, which carries a penalty of up to $2,500 in fines and up to one year in jail.
“With the current dry conditions and low humidity values, the risk of wildfires is very high,” Sevier County Fire & Rescue Chief David Puckett said. “A single spark could ignite a wildfire that could threaten lives and property.”
Emergency personnel are asking residents and visitors in the Sevier County area to use extreme caution when working outdoors. This includes operating equipment outdoors, ensuring safety chains on trailers are properly attached, and ensuring to properly discard of smoking materials in ashtrays or other containers.
