Staff report

PEDRO — The Wayne National Forest’s Fire Management Program responded to two new wildfires that started the evening of Wednesday in the Ironton Ranger District.
Fire personnel stopped all the incidents from advancing and are currently mopping up on two acres in Brady Creek area and a half acre in the 93 area.
The public is encouraged to avoid the areas near the fires to allow personnel to conduct operations.
Additionally, the Forest urges visitors to adhere to the state of Ohio’s open burn ban that prohibits most burning between 6 a.m.–6 p.m. through Nov. 30.
The public should report smoke or flames to emergency authorities immediately.
Forest Supervisor Lee Stewart said the public is a key partner in preventing future wildfires and protecting forests.
“Our firefighters are working around the clock as they respond these new wildfires, so we’re asking the public to do their part to avoid additional wildfires. This means complying with the state’s open burn ban during the daytime and being cautious if you light a fire at night,” Stewart said. “The drought conditions that we are currently experiencing have increased the likelihood of an accidental spark or unattended fire to quickly become a wildfire.”
Frequent warm days and limited rainfall from July through August have created an elevated wildfire threat.
Examples of fuels include shrubs, dead leaves, fallen pine needles and dry grasses, all of which can quickly ignite.
The Forest will provide updates as they become available on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/waynenationalforest.
Ohio’s seasonal open burn ban took effect Oct. 1. State law prohibits burning in most open unincorporated areas between 6 a.m. –6 p.m. from March through May and October through November each year.
The U.S. Forest Service is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Its mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the country’s 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.
The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world.
Its public lands contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year and provide 20 percent of the country’s clean water supply.
For more information, visit www.fs.usda.gov.