TEXARKANA, Ark. - The Miller County Office of Emergency Management has issued a burn ban due to extremely dry weather conditions across the area.
County officials issued the ban on open outdoor burning to reduce the risk of dangerous fires, which can spread rapidly during dry periods and be difficult to extinguish.
Open burning includes any outdoor fire in which smoke enters the air directly rather than through a chimney or stack. Under the current ban, prohibited activities include:
- Fireworks
- Burn barrels
- Campfires and fire pits
- Yard and brush burning
- Open flame grilling
Emergency officials advise residents to take extra precautions to prevent accidental fires. Recommendations include avoiding parking on dry grass, keeping trailer chains from dragging on pavement, extinguishing cigarettes with water, and using caution when operating machinery that generates sparks.
In Northwest Louisiana, DeSoto Parish is also under an active burn ban due to elevated fire danger.