Citing high fire danger, Chester bans open burns

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Chester Fire Warden Jeff Holden has issued an open burn ban beginning tonight — Friday, April 22 — within the town of Chester. Open burning includes burning a pile on the ground, using a burn barrel and burning in any open topped container.

The ban will be in effect until at least Monday or until “we get significant rain” townwide, he said on Friday evening. “The fire danger is high and some areas are red-flagged,” he said. Red-flagged areas are designated by the National Weather Service and are issued to local fire-fighting agencies to be on alert. They indicate that conditions — dryness, wind, lack of humidity — make an area more susceptible to fire danger.

Holden added that in the past few days Chester has had “a couple of small fires” where the potential for danger is very strong.

If you have any questions or to report an illegal burn within Chester, call Holden at 802-384-3001.