County Under Burn Ban

No Rain, High Temperatures Cited

A Washington County burn ban was issued early Wednesday morning, which means no outdoor burning of any kind will be allowed.

Washington County Judge Marilyn Edwards and Fire Marshal Dennis Ledbetter said in a news release that lack of precipitation and extremely high temperatures have caused vegetation in the area to become highly combustible. Only when moisture conditions permit will the ban be lifted.

Ledbetter said on Wednesday the ban covers fireworks. “It’s too bad about Fourth of July but conditions just means it's not possible.”

State law allows professional firework shows to take place, according to Ledbetter. The state would have to issue a ban on those.

“We will be monitoring the county every day the burn ban is in place,” Ledbetter said. “This may be a long time deal. Some parts of the county are dryer than other parts but in my position I have to look at the county

as a whole and it is very dry out there. With 100-degree weather and not enough moisture, looking ahead it could be next Thursday or Friday before there is even a chance of rainfall.”

“We'll be monitoring it, but I can't say how much will be needed to lift the ban,” Ledbetter said.

Amy Jankowski, meteorologist with the Tulsa National Weather Service didn’t give much hope for temperatures to drop substantially in the foreseeable future, nor any good chances for rainfall.

“It’s looking hot down the road and as long as the high pressure that is controlling the area doesn’t move much, things won’t change,” Jankowski said.

The weekend saw a brief cool down to the high 90s but temperatures were headed back to the 100s this week.

Jankowski said the Fayetteville and west Washington County area broke a June record last week with more than two consecutive days of 100 or above temperatures.

“That is a first time ever,” Jankowski said.

Lincoln and Farmington fire departments have seen brush and grass fires increase in the past couple of weeks.

Jason Bromley, a firefighter with the Prairie Grove department, said they had responded to only two brush fires as of last Wednesday with one in the Strickler area and one near Cincinnati.

Lincoln Fire Administrator Jay Norton said firefighters in his area had been out on 10 calls in the past two weeks. One was due to fireworks.

Norton said with the burn ban it is unlawful to do any burning and if someone is caught setting a fire using fireworks, there is a possibility of being in jail up to a year and having to pay a fine not exceeding $2,500.

“Fireworks are banned,” Norton said.

Farmington Fire Chief Mark Cunningham said his department had been handling more calls lately. “And it’s not supposed to get any better,” he said.

Even though fireworks were on display over the weekend during Farmington’s Freedom Fest, it was only because the city had a state permit, according to Cunningham.