JACKSON, Tenn. (WBBJ) – Several county fire departments have announced that the Tennessee Division of Forestry will not be issuing burn permits this weekend. Those counties as of 3:00 PM Friday are Decatur, Gibson, Henderson, Lake, Obion, Shelby, Weakley and Tipton. The reasoning comes from a Fire Danger Statement issued for some of the region.
Fire weather statements are issued when three conditions are present: Winds at or above 15 MPH, relative humidity at or below 40%, and dry fuels on the ground.
The National Weather Service in Memphis recommends avoiding open flames and sparks, do not park your vehicle on dry grass, and properly discard cigarettes.
Who needs a permit
“The State Division of Forestry issues burn permits for outside of the city limits of any county in Tennessee. The cities have their own burn ordinances, but out in the county, you have to have a free burn permit from October 15th through May 15th,” says Bryan Cathey, Gibson Co. Fire Chief…