Cookeville lifted its outdoor burn ban Thursday following two inches of rain over the last week.
Cookeville Fire Department Chief Benton Young said most residents complied with the restrictions during the two-week ban. The department encountered only a couple of instances of outdoor burning, both involving residents who were unaware of the order.
“Well, it’s pretty wet and good now, otherwise we wouldn’t have lifted it,” Young said. “So I mean, we’ve got probably a couple inches of rain in the last week or so and that’s what we really needed, just some good soaking rains to get some of the ground cover wet and saturated.”
Although the temporary restrictions have ended, Young said Cookeville requires permits for all outdoor burning, including campfires, brush piles and untreated, unfinished wood. Residents can obtain permits online or by calling the fire department.
“So, in the city of Cookeville, you always have to have a burn permit year-round,” Young said.
Young said most residential permits do not require an inspection, but the department typically inspects larger contractor burn piles before issuing permits.
With fall cleanup underway, Young urged residents to keep burn piles small, maintain a nearby.
“Well, always, anytime you’re burning anything, don’t leave it unattended for any amount of time at all because it just takes a few minutes or less than that to even get a spark and start something else on fire,” Young said.
Young said residents should extinguish fires before dark and contact the fire department if problems arise. The department will continue monitoring weather conditions and could reinstate the ban if dry conditions return.
