Intense drought conditions, or D4, in over 35% of Ohio’s land area were at their highest peak in 25 years in 2024, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. In 2025, almost 10% of the state’s land area is experiencing D4 conditions.
The conditions have created challenges for municipal water supply and quality, decreased agricultural production, limited barge transportation on major rivers and a possible increased risk of wildfire.
A recurring state law was put into place Oct. 1 that restricts open burning in unincorporated areas from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the fall months of October and November and the spring months of March, April and May, according to the Forestry Laws.
Open burning is an outdoor fire that does not vent into a chimney or through the stack effect, as defined by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources enforces open fire regulations to ensure the safety of the citizens of Ohio, according to their website. Rather than burning products, ODNR suggests composting or other alternative methods.
The National Integrated Drought Information System has created maps establishing the persistence of drought in Ohio. Ohio’s lands are 41.6% abnormally dry, and Athens County is receiving an average of half an inch of precipitation per week.
Chief of the Athens City Fire Department, Robert Rymer, has been a firefighter for 35 years, with 32 being in Athens, and expressed concerns about the current dry spell.
“It's again that the burn regulation we have going on from October to November, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., is prohibited because of humidity," Rymer said. "You see the wind how it is out there right now, that's going to take those (debris from the fire) that were carried away from you."
Though it is not typical for forest fires in Athens County, most that do occur start from human error, like throwing a cigarette out of the window or having a campfire, according to Rymer.
In addition to the fire regulations in place, Rymer advises anyone who decides to openly burn to be attentive to their fire, have a good buffer zone and keep an extinguishing agent.
“What we call fire break, whether that's cutting out all the grass or raking all the leaves away from where you want to burn, not doing it right next to all your trees in your backyard, where it's just going to get carried away rather quickly, right on a nice protected area that can be monitored real well,” Rymer said.
The Ohio EPA states any open burning of materials consisting of garbage, rubber, dead animals, auto parts, grease, asphalt or petroleum is against state law.
ODNR Division of Forestry Fire Program administrator, Aaron Kloss, explained the reasoning behind the 1988 implementation of open fire regulation in Ohio.
“It's a typical and annual seasonal law that comes into play in the spring and then the fall in Ohio. The main reason why that law has been on the books since the 1980s is to enhance community safety, because the main cause of wildfires in Ohio is escaped debris burning,” Kloss said.
Kloss said the risk of wildfires has increased due to August being the driest month in Ohio’s history. He also said the enforcement of the regulations is established by ODNR law enforcement in the eastern and southern parts of the state, county sheriffs and local fire departments.
As a final comment, Kloss expresses appreciation for the hard work of the people working at various Ohio fire departments and urges citizens to be safe.
“We need to keep in mind that everybody has the ability to create community safety and prevent wildfires, and that's the reason why this law is in place,” Kloss said. “We have our local responders working really hard also.”
