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Sep 15, 2023

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Burn bans are in effect in some counties and municipalities across south-central Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources defines a burn ban as follows:

Adams County

There is not currently a county-wide ban. However, a 30-day burn ban is currently in effect in Littlestown, Adams County, due to dry conditions. It will expire on July 6, 2023.

A notice on the borough website says if there is significant rainfall and conditions improve, the burn ban could be lifted. If that happens, the borough says notifications will go out.

Franklin Township has a burn ban until further notice.

If you're aware of other localized bans in Adams County, you can email us here: [email protected].

Cumberland County

Currently, there is no county-wide ban in place. If you know of a municipal burn ban in Cumberland County, you can email us at [email protected].

Dauphin County

The county is deferring to boroughs, townships and cities to determine burn bans at the local level.

You can email [email protected] to let us know if there is a ban in your municipality.

Franklin County

A burn ban is in effect in Southampton Township. The township posted a message on its website saying the ban will be in effect "until further notice."

Outdoor cooking on a grill or other covered device is allowed.

During the ban, residents are prohibited from any type of open burning. Residents with questions can contact the township at 717-532-9041.

So far, no county-wide ban is in place.

If you know of other localized burn bans in Franklin County, email us at [email protected].

Juniata County

Currently, no county-wide ban is in place.

If you know of a municipality with a local burn ban, you can email us at [email protected].

Lancaster County

Lancaster County commissioners issued a 30-day burn ban. It goes into effect Friday, June 9.

The commissioners voted on the ban following a joint request from 13 fire chiefs and a recommendation from the Pennsylvania District Forester.

Brian Pasquale, the director of Lancaster County's emergency management agency, recommended the burn ban after speaking with the region's fire warden and fire chiefs.

The ban will NOT include fireworks but will be focused on open burning. Open burning is defined as the ignition and burning of any combustible material outside in a burn barrel, fire ring or on the ground. The use of propane or gas stoves, charcoal briquette grills or tobacco is allowed.

A county-wide burn ban isn't common. It's been more than a decade since the last one, but that's how dry conditions are right now.

The ban could be lifted earlier if it rains.

Lebanon County

A burn ban goes into effect at noon on Thursday, June 8, 2023, for Lebanon County. The ban will remain in effect until Saturday, July 8, 2023.

The ban prohibits open burning, which is defined as burning combustible materials, such as garbage, leaves, grass, twigs, paper and other materials outside. The ban also includes fireworks.

Propane or gas stoves, charcoal briquette grills and the use of tobacco are allowed.

Campfires are allowed in fire rings that confine and contain the campfire in a designated state, federal, or Department of Environmental Protection licensed campground.

Violators could be fined $100 for the first offense, $200 for a second offense and $300 for a third offense.

You can read the full text of the burn ban here.

Mifflin County

There is no county-wide ban in place at the moment. If you know of a localized ban in Mifflin County, email us at [email protected].

Perry County

Perry County does not have a county-wide ban in place.

If you know of a municipality in the county that does have a ban, email us at [email protected].

York County

A burn ban went into effect on Monday, June 5, in York County. It will remain in effect until July 5, 2023, with periodic reviews.

The ban prohibits open burning of any combustibles except for cooking. The ban does not include fireworks. Residents should follow what their municipalities guidelines state, as well as state laws.

Violators could face the following fines:

The ban does not cover propane or gas stoves, charcoal briquette grills or the use of tobacco. Campfires in designated state, federal or Department of Environmental Protection licensed campgrounds are allowed in fire rings that confine and contain the campfire.

The York County Commissioners issued the ban, and it supersedes any municipal ordinance to the contrary.

You can read the full text of the burn ban here.

You can stay in the know when there are weather warnings for elevated fire risk. Use the links below to sign up for WGAL alerts: