Many Tennessee municipalities had already ordered a ban on outside burning due to the unseasonal hot and dry conditions, but Monday afternoon the state forestry division announced it will issue no rural burn permits whatsoever until the state receives a significant amount of rainfall.

While Spring appears to be in full flower, this month has been one of the warmest and driest Marches in Tennessee history. Normally the wettest month of the year, an average of less than one inch of rain has fallen in the Middle Tennessee region, which sees nearly five inches of precipitation during the period in a typical year.

Temperatures in Lafayette reached 86 degrees this Monday, March 26, matching a record set in 1910. Sunday's 86 degree high broke the 100-year record for that date.

While February was one of the coldest on record, March temperatures have averaged about six degrees above normal, according to Nashville NOAA meteorologist Bobby Boyd.

The largest of Macon County's brush and woods fires burned over nearly 100 acres and threatened several homes and one business on Hwy. 141 west of Lafayette two weeks ago. By the end of Sunday, March 25, 1,321 fires have burned nearly 20,000 acres across the state in recent weeks.

Although weather forecasters are calling for some chance of rain every day in the coming week, rainfall in quantities sufficient to dampen the dangerously dry brush and grass in rural areas is not expected until the weekend, if then.

“We need a good soaking rain,” said Lafayette Fire Chief Keith Scruggs. “Things are greening up nicely, but the brush and grass is tender box dry.”

Even “controlled burns” are prohibited until further notice. Burn permits are required in Tennessee from October 15 until May 15, the annual “burn season.” However, no burn permits whatever are being issued by the forestry service, either inside or outside city limits in the midstate region.

“I'd say anyone caught conducting open burning, even if it's supervised, will be issued a citation,” continued LFD Chief Scruggs.

While the grass and woods fires in Macon County have done no significant damage to forest land thus far, the fires are considered a very serious matter by fire departments and the forestry service when they threaten structures or cross property boundaries.

Smokers are urged to exercise extreme caution in how they dispose of their cigarette butts. Persons foolish enough to set off fireworks or bottle rockets have been recently cited by Lafayette City Police for their reckless behavior.