Backyard burn piles are on ice across Knox County, as officials on Tuesday issued a countywide halt on open burning over wildfire worries tied to dry conditions and gusty winds in the forecast.
The restriction takes effect immediately and covers any burning of material on the ground or in an open container. County officials and Rural Metro fire crews are asking residents to hold off on campfires, burn barrels, and debris burns until conditions calm down and the order is lifted.
Rural Metro Fire shared the ban on social media and said low humidity and expected strong winds factored into the decision, according to WATE 6 On Your Side. The agency also noted that Knox County's Air Quality Management program is not issuing open-burn permits while the ban is in place.
Due to dry conditions and forecast for elevated wind speeds, open burning is banned in Knox County for today, Tuesday February 24, 2026. For more information please contact Knox County Air Quality Management. pic.twitter.com/9222JHdVl2
— Rural Metro Fire TN (@ruralmetrofire) February 24, 2026
What the ban covers
Knox County defines open burning as the burning of material on the ground or in an open container that is not connected to a stack or chimney. That includes casual backyard flames like campfires and burn barrels, not just big brush piles. The county's Air Quality Management program says some types of outdoor burning are always off limits and others normally require a permit, according to Knox County Air Quality Management. State guidance from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation lays out what cannot be burned at all and offers alternatives for handling yard waste without lighting a match.
Why officials acted now
Fire and county officials pointed to a string of recent incidents that had them on edge, including a roughly 23 acre wildfire on Clinch Mountain in Grainger County and separate vehicle and house fires earlier this week. Taken together with the forecast for strong winds and very dry air, those blazes prompted a precautionary pause on open burning.
What residents should do
Knox County Air Quality Management is asking residents to postpone any open burning and to call 865-215-5900 with questions about permits or to report smoke issues. Officials also urge people to skip activities that can throw sparks, such as parking hot vehicles on dry grass or running outdoor equipment without spark arresters, until the ban is lifted.
Updates will be posted on the county website and through Rural Metro Fire on social media, which carried the initial alert. This is not Knox County's first burn ban during a dry, windy stretch; local agencies put similar limits in place last year when brush fires flared across East Tennessee, as covered by WVLT.
