State Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher has issued a burn ban for Marion, Robertson, Rutherford, Sequatchie, Smith, Sumner, Wilson, and Van Buren counties and multiple cities in Williamson County have stopped issuing burn permits including Brentwood and Spring Hill. This burn ban will remain in place until further notice.
•The ban applies to all open-air burning including leaf and woody debris and construction burning, campfires and other fire activity outside of municipalities where local ordinances apply.
•Under state law, the commissioner of agriculture, in consultation with the state forester, has the authority to issue burn bans at the request of county mayors under certain weather conditions. Requests from county mayors for a burn ban are considered in consultation with the State Forester based on a number of factors including weather, climate, fire danger and occurrence and resource availability.
•A violation of a Commissioner of Agriculture imposed burn ban is considered reckless burning and is punishable as a Class A misdemeanor which carries a fine of $2,500 and/or up to 11 months 29 days in jail.
Go to BurnSafeTN.org for up-to-date information on the State Burn Ban.