Burn ban issued for Washington County community due to lack of rain WPXI [Video]

NORTH FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, Pa. — After weeks without a soaking rain in North Franklin Township, Washington County, Bob Sabot, the Chair of the Board of Supervisors and the Emergency Management Coordinator, issued an emergency burn ban.

“We’re sitting on a tinderbox here,” Sabot said. “What I told the county today was I felt we were in a dangerous situation and I said that I’m fearful that something could occur.”

Normally, burning is allowed in the township on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

On Saturday, Sabot says a resident was burning garbage and the fire quickly and unintentionally spread.

“It got out of control and multiple fire companies had to be called and the house almost burned down of the residents because of it,” Sabot said.

After that, Sabot issued the ban on all burning, including fire pits, garbage, and even fireworks.

That includes fireworks at Washington Wild Things games.

“We’re not trying to stop people from having a good time, …