Just hours before Carbon County firefighters battled a brush fire along Pohopoco Drive in Towamensing Township, Schuylkill County commissioners enacted a 30-day ban on open burning.

The ban starts at noon Friday and ends at noon May 17. Violators could be fined hundreds of dollars and be held liable for the costs of putting out a brush fire that results from ignoring the ban.April and May are peak months for brush fires, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.There were 49 brush fires in the county last April, and the count as of Wednesday was already up to 32, according to John Matz of the Schuylkill County Emergency Management Agency."Schuylkill County has been experiencing an exceptional number of uncontrolled fires due to the carelessness of individuals," he said. "The fires are fueled by dry, fallen branches and leaf ground cover and driven by brisk winds."County fire chiefs, District Forester Timothy Ladner of the Weiser Forest District, and DCNR all supported the ban."Uncontrolled fires in brush and wooded areas put a tremendous strain on our firefighters, endanger watersheds, obstruct transportation corridors, pose a threat to commercial operations and residential areas. We are taking this action earlier in the season with the hope of raising awareness within the community and limiting the danger of uncontrolled fires. We urge the public to adhere to these temporary restrictions in the interest of everyone's safety," Matz said.The ban prohibits any outdoor burning of paper, garbage, leaves, grass, twigs, litter or any other combustible material.Grilling is allowed as long as the proper equipment is used. However, the ban forbids lighting fires in outdoor burn barrels or fire rings. Residents violating the ban face fines of $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second and $300 for each additional violation. Violators are also responsible for the cost of extinguishing any wildland fire they cause, Matz said.Businesses may request an exemption to the burn ban. A letter of explanation detailing the adverse economic effects of the ban must be submitted to the Schuylkill County Emergency Management Agency for review and consideration, he said.The last countywide burn ban was last April and resulted in a substantial reduction in the number of uncontrolled fires compared with similar periods of time without bans in place, Matz said.Matt said DCNR will monitor rainfall and forest and ground cover conditions throughout the ban. If the district forester deems it necessary, he may recommend the commissioners extend the ban an additional 30 days.