Lancaster County Burn Ban Lifted 6/21/2023 at 10:30am
LIFTING THE BAN ON OPEN BURNING IN LANCASTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
On motion of Commissioner Parsons, seconded by Commissioner Trescot;
WHEREAS, The County Commissioners are desirous of providing for the health, safety and welfare of the people of Lancaster County; and
WHEREAS, Due to significant brush and woods fires that occurred this spring, and the very high wildfire potential throughout Lancaster County due to the lack of rainfall and the unseasonably warm temperatures, the Board of Commissioners established a 30-day ban on open burning in Lancaster County which took effect on Friday, June 9, 2023 at 10:00 a.m., in accordance with Act 1995-52 and Section 7501 of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Services Code (35 PA C.S.), as amended; and
WHEREAS, The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (“DCNR”), District Forester has been contacted about the current ban on open burning and has stated that based on improving conditions due to recent rainfall, the DCNR supports the lifting of the current ban on open burning; and
WHEREAS, The DCNR assessed the Wildland Fire Danger as Moderate on June 18, 2023, has downgraded their Fire Forecast to Low as of June 19, 2023 and for the next several days; and
WHEREAS, The Lancaster County Fire Chief’s Association, after reviewing the District Forester’s information regarding Wildfire Risk Forecast and the DCNR support for lifting the ban, has expressed their support for lifting the Lancaster County-wide burn ban, and shifting the authority back to local municipalities for initiating local burn bans; and
WHEREAS, The National Weather Service forecast calls for rain of one-quarter to one-half an inch of rain per day over the next two days, with follow on forecasts of rain each day lasting into the next week.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LANCASTER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, That the ban on open burning in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is hereby lifted effective at 10:30 a.m. the 21st day of June, 2023.
Motion passed unanimously.
DULY ADOPTED this 21st day of June, 2023 by the Board of Commissioners of the County of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in lawful session duly assembled.