Vermont bans debris burning statewide due to wildfire risk

Following reports of wildfires and persistent drought, the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation stopped issuing debris burning permits for two weeks.

This ban is valid until 15.00 on November 11, but if conditions improve, the ministry may cancel the ban early.

Wildfire risk in Vermont has fluctuated between high, very high and extreme over the past week, with dry air, low humidity and strong winds combining to create conditions that make wildfires more likely to spread, according to a press release from the department. The lack of precipitation in the forecast and the dryness of forest fuels further increases the fire danger across the state.

Many town wildfire managers had already stopped issuing burn permits, and the statewide order aims to strengthen local efforts, according to Danielle Fitzko, the department’s commissioner.

“We are also concerned that fire personnel are becoming stressed and fatigued as they share the responsibility of responding to wildfires,” Fitzko said in a statement.

Vermont Wildfire Warden Dan Dillner emphasized the importance of limiting human-caused fires to reduce risk.

“It is critical that we reduce the potential for human-caused fires by implementing this temporary ban on burn permits,” Dillner said in the statement.

Fire crews on Sunday discovered a large wildfire near Morgan Hill Road in Barnard that destroyed two camps and then spread into surrounding forests, according to a press release from the Vermont State Police on Sunday.

It is believed that the fire was caused by improper disposal of ashes from a wood stove. Fire crews were still battling the blaze at 4 p.m. on Oct. 27, and smoke could be visible for several more days, according to state police.