Wildfires continue to burn in parts of East Tennessee.
There are two active fires according to the Tennessee Division of Forestry: One in Anderson County, the Scott Brogan Lane fire which started over the weekend. That fire is almost 400 acres and is now 85% contained. The other is in Morgan County on Hawn Road is affecting 5 acres and is 90% contained.
There are 15 contained fires in our area and a handful of fires which have been extinguished.
Rural Metro says due to an elevated fire risk with gusty winds and low relative humidity, open burning is banned in Knox County today (Wednesday).
Morgan County and the cities of Oak Ridge and Loudon have also issued burn bans due to dry conditions.
The Tennessee Division of Forestry is requiring the permits for anyone who wants to burn debris on their property. They are required by the state from October 15 to May 15, however Knox County requires a burn permit year-round.
A permit is needed for any open-air fire that is within 500 feet of a forest, grassland, or woodland and burning trash is not allowed.