The burn ban comes during an extremely dry period for the whole state. With only .02 inches of rain last month, October was the driest month on record for the Lehigh Valley. The National Weather Service said .29 inches of rain have fallen so far this month, which is not enough to put a “meaningful dent” in drought conditions.

Late last month, Belvedere firefighters called on the Aiken Co. Council to enact an emergency burn ban after a weeks-long drought and debris piles stacked high.

Franklin County commissioners enacted the 30-day burn ban at the request of the district forester, supported by local fire chiefs.