Special to the Times Vedette
Jeremy Cooper, deputy coordinator with Adair and Guthrie County EMA, working with the fire departments in Adair and Guthrie Counties, requested the State Fire Marshal prohibit open burning due to potential hazards to life and property. The State Marshal’s Office granted the request, and, therefore, no person is allowed to engage in open burning in Adair and Guthrie Counties until conditions improve. This order became effective on Feb. 24 at 8 a.m. Violators of this order could be charged with a misdemeanor.
“Adair and Guthrie County Fire Departments have seen the effects of fires in extreme conditions, and they want to do everything they can to help mitigate life-threatening incidents from occurring,” Cooper said. “These fire departments are volunteer departments that respond to calls that pull them from their everyday life and work and become very taxing on those volunteers. We have been in a drought for over four years, and conditions have not improved much. We have experienced an abnormal winter with only one major snow event that didn’t help with the overall moisture levels. Hopefully, in the coming weeks, things will improve and start greening up.”
More information on burn bans can be found at the State Fire Marshal’s website.