Because of the extended dry weather that is being experienced in Cumberland County, burn permits will be required starting Monday, September 23, 2019. The permits are needed to start an open air fire within five hundred feet of any forest, grassland or woodland.

Permits, if issued on any given day, will be available by phone from your local city or county fire department or online at BurnSafeTN.org. Safe Debris Burn Permits have proven to be an effective tool at making residents aware of when, where, and how it is safe to conduct a debris burn.

If conditions are not conducive for safe debris burning, permits will not be issued. It is important to note that this action does not equate to a burn ban. Burning without a permit is a burn restriction that has legal ramifications – specifically, a violation is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to a 30 day sentence and/or $50 fine.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry is keeping a close eye on weather conditions as our state experiences a prolonged hot and dry pattern. Fortunately, they have not seen an increase in the number of wildfires over the past few weeks. Fire danger indices they routinely monitor remain in low to moderate status. While these metrics are positive, they certainly recognize municipal and county concerns with the weather and appreciate the cooperation with managing expectations of residents and visitors in wildfire prevention.