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Board hears warnings about dry conditions, asks staff to research local burning ordinance options
Summary
Henry County public safety officials warned of rapidly drying conditions and recent ground fires; supervisors asked staff to research potential localized burning restrictions or zoning-based controls for high-risk roads.
Henry County public-safety officials warned the Board of Supervisors on Jan. 28, 2025 that dry conditions have increased wildfire risk and that recent ground fires strained volunteer resources, prompting supervisors to ask staff to research options for localized burning restrictions.
Matt Tatum, Public Safety Director for Henry County, told the board that the state burn ban would take effect in a few days and that low humidity and breezy conditions were causing rapid drying of surface fuels. Tatum said a recent ground fire moved quickly and consumed several hundred feet of hose and other equipment, and that the county’s volunteer departments were heavily engaged.
Supervisor Tim Statham (as recorded in the meeting transcript) described a resident evacuation on Richardson Road in Collinsville during the recent fire and asked whether the county could consider an ordinance preventing open burning on specific roads with limited egress. Tatum and other staff said the county is currently permissive about outdoor burning in many rural areas and that state regulations govern specific burn practices; they recommended the board direct staff and the county attorney to research options.
Lee Clark, Director of Planning and Zoning, and other staff were identified as potential participants in that work, which could include considering tactical zoning, targeted ordinances for specific roadways or zoning classifications, or other regulatory approaches. The board asked staff to coordinate and report back with recommendations.
No ordinance was adopted at the Jan. 28 meeting. Staff said any change would require legal review and likely additional stakeholder input, and the board flagged the matter for future consideration.
