Lawrence County commissioners table lifting of countywide burn ban after week of debate

Lawrence County Commissioners on Oct. 14 voted to table a resolution (Res. 3-37) that would have rescinded a countywide burn ban, after Public Safety Director Chad Strobel told commissioners that fire-danger conditions had eased.

Strobel told the board the state-observed fire danger for the county was currently low and that recent forecasts called for rain late in the week and over the weekend. He said the county had received roughly 10–12 calls for burning complaints in recent weeks and that recent incidents, including a brush fire apparently caused by farm equipment on Clark Road in Little Beaver Township, had been quickly controlled. “My honest opinion and my feelings are that the burn ban could be lifted with the guidance going out to the public,” Strobel said, while also recommending public guidance about safe times to burn.

Commissioners said they appreciated Strobel’s assessment but also raised procedural questions about whether a formal written recommendation or additional consultation with county fire chiefs and state forestry representatives was required to lift a ban implemented under statute. Given those uncertainties and the limited rain in the short term, the board agreed to delay action until next Tuesday to allow staff to confirm the statutory process and to see if the forecasted weekend rain materializes.

Strobel summarized the county’s recent fire activity and nearby counties’ responses. He said most of the Commonwealth is at a low fire-danger level except for a handful of northern counties, and listed several counties that had active bans; he also noted the state parks had not issued bans. Commissioners repeatedly noted that while many municipalities have their own burn ordinances and permitting requirements, rural and agricultural burning can fall into different categories and asked staff to report back with clearer documentation of the statutory steps required to rescind the county action.

The motion to table the resolution until the board’s next meeting carried on a roll call vote and the item will return to the agenda. No vote was taken on rescinding the ban at the Oct. 14 meeting.

Why it matters: The burn ban affects residents across Lawrence County, volunteer fire departments, and agricultural interests; commissioners said they did not want to lift a county-level restriction without confirming the proper statutory steps and ensuring volunteer first responders would not be put at additional risk.

What’s next: County staff will verify the statutory procedure for lifting a burn ban, attempt to reach more fire chiefs for input, and bring a recommendation back to the board at its next scheduled meeting (the board voted to consider the item again on the following Tuesday).