Towamencin Township has imposed an outdoor burning ban effective immediately, and with scorched lawns and dry brush, Fire Marshal Kevin Pezzano says it will stay in place for a while. “I don’t foresee this being lifted any time soon.  We’re going to need 3 or 4 days of good soaking rain to bring this stuff back up, and right now it’s so dry out there it’s like a tinder box.”

The burning ban applies to bonfires, camp fires, any kind of open burning and Chimineas, and he also urges people not to throw lit cigarette butts out of car windows.

“It’s actually illegal to do that.  A police officer can stop them for that.  It is a problem, especially in these dry conditions.  You see a shower of sparks going up, and it only takes one of them to set the side of the road on fire.”

Pezzano also reminds home gardeners that mulch will burn, and they had a mulch fire just a few days ago that was probably started by a cigarette butt.  He says cooking fires are allowed, but they urge people to use their barbecue grills with caution.