Wildfire season has begun in Tennessee and that means burn permits will be required beginning Wednesday.
Department of Forestry Communications and Outreach Director Megan Carpenter says burn permits are an essential tool in preventing fires in our area.
“The burn permits are designed to communicate to the public about when and where it’s safe to burn.” Carpenter says the permits are good until midnight on the day issued. “If you need to burn a second day, go and get another burn permit, because the conditions may have changed.”
Carpenter says there are a couple of things residents can do to ensure a safe burn.
“Make sure you clear out the debris that surrounds where you are gonna burn, you don’t want to have a bunch of leaves near your fire, or anything that can catch and that fire can spread easily,” Carpenter said. “Make sure you have tools to contain your fire with you, whether that’s water, or that’s a rake, or a shovel, or something like that…and make sure that you stay with your fire until it is completely out. It is the law to stay with your fire till it is out.”
Burn permits are free, and can be obtained online at burnsafetn.org.
