Fire alarm! : Burn ban issued for Lawrence County as brush fires rage on; burn ban violators could be charged

A burn ban has been put into effect for Lawrence County after the county commission, in league with the State Fire Marshal issued the notice which was then communicated over the air on Friday, Sept. 4. Since then, various departments in Lawrence County have released the information to the public as brush fires continue to rage in the area. According to Freistatt Fire Protection Chief, Art Mattlage the recent burn ban was necessary to prevent unnecessary damage to property and crops, as some fire protection outfits have been battling preventable fires.
 
“The idea of the burn ban is trying to protect property, prevent unnecessary fires,” he said. “We all know that accidents can happen, but it’s extremely dry and one innocent little ‘I’m going to burn some trash’ can turn into a very large event that could cost loss of property, loss of crops and we’re trying to prevent this.”
 
Those who do not honor the burn ban in Lawrence County can expect punishment according to Mattlage. Anyone who violates the ban could receive a Class A misdemeanor and up to one year in jail. 
 
Mattlage said that, with how dry the county is, a large fire can be incredibly easy to start and difficult to fight. 
 
“One little piece of trash flies out of that burn barrel, you’re potentially going to catch a field on fire,” he said. “Then, it’s just going to spread… they’re extremely hard to stop in the fields right now because everything is so dry.”
 
Mattlage urged locals to adhere to the burn ban in Lawrence County. 
 
“Please honor the ban and don’t burn at this time, there will be better days to burn later on,” he said. I understand some people are frustrated that this is happening but this is for the betterment of the county and the citizens living in it.”