The State has placed Cheatham County, along with 6 other counties, under a burn ban. Open air burning is suspended until further notice. This ban includes outdoor grilling.

The ban applies to all open-air burning including leaf and woody debris and construction burning, campfires, outdoor grills and other fire activity outside of municipalities where local ordinances apply.

Getting caught could cost you $2500 and up to a year in jail. The ban does not prohibit fireworks where they are allowed; however, please take caution to water the area if you plan on launching fireworks.

Update, 6/30, 7:18PM:  We’ve noticed some confusion regarding which body of government can ban what.  The county mayor petitioned the state government for a ban on open burning.  This was approved by the state government, and therefore was announced [please see above].  However, there is no ban on fireworks, unfortunately.  It is entirely up to our local municipality (i.e., our local Town of Kingston Springs) to ban fireworks.  So far, our town has chosen not to ban them.  Rather, our town is asking that we exercise an abundance of common sense and not set them off until this soon-to-be-drought is over and we receive some good rain.  If the Town of Kingston Springs announces a ban on fireworks, we’ll post an update here.

Update, 7/05, 11:47AM:  Please note that our burn ban is still in effect.  Our drought conditions are even predicted to worsen.  Looks like we’ll be under a burn ban for at least the foreseeable future.