Burn Ban In Place In Chester County As Fire Danger Rises

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — A countywide burn ban has been issued in Chester County for the next month as historic drought conditions persist and the risk of severe wildfires increases.

Climate change creates conditions that exacerbate both severe weather and drought: when things are dry as they are now, lingering heat and increased evaporation rates are likely to make them even drier. And when storms hit, they draw even more moisture from a warmer ocean, making them even more severe.

The region has received less than half of the precipitation it typically does in October, and much of the region appears set for its driest October in recorded history, according to the National Weather Service.

The county commissioners office declared the burn ban, which will last through Monday, Nov. 25. The ban prohibits the open burning of "any combustible material" outdoors, including in a burn barrel, fire ring, fire pit, or on the ground.

"This includes the burning of garbage, leaves, grass, twigs, litter, paper, and vegetation from land which has been cleared," the commissioners office said.

Nearby Delaware County has enacted a similar ban.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, parts of of southeastern Pennsylvania are currently experiencing a moderate drought, but most of Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Bucks counties are in a severe drought.

On the Monitor's scale, a "severe" drought is the third most serious out of five classifications. Exceptional drought is the most dire, followed by extreme, and then severe, moderate, and an "abnormally dry" status.

Significant wood and brush fires have already plagued much of the region, and parts of New Jersey have seen devastating wildfires in recent weeks.

The Philadelphia area appears likely headed for its driest October in history, with only trace precipitation received through Oct. 27, according to the National Weather Service.

Droughts are caused by more than just a lack of total amassed rainfall, however. Stream and river flow, groundwater level, and soil moisture all play a role, and each requires regular precipitation to maintain a delicate balance to provide both a healthy and functioning ecosystem and sustainable drinking water levels.

For droughts specifically, water evaporates more quickly when it's warmer. Hotter soils are drier. Drought conditions mean less greenery is growing, which means that plants are absorbing less CO2, creating a feedback loop that further contributes to warming.