Upper Valley towns ban outdoor fires as drought worsens in New England

THETFORD — Towns in the Upper Valley are instituting burn bans and restrictions in response to worsening drought conditions in New England.

Thetford has burned all outdoor burning, including campfires and cooking fires, according to a post on the Thetford Volunteer Fire Department Facebook page.

Enfield is also banning outdoor burning and has suspended campfire permits in response to the dry conditions under an order from the town’s fire chief and forest fire warden. Canaan has done the same.

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu says he anticipates announcing a statewide severe drought law.

Gov. Sununu asked the Executive Council on Wednesday to prepare to vote by phone on a unique emergency law to prohibit outdoor fires near public woodlands to prevent forest fires, the Portsmouth Herald reported.

The state has not had substantial rain for weeks, which has led some private wells to go dry and forced water bans on lawns and washing cars.

Gov. Sununu says that the state is looking to ban “kindling of any open fires and smokers and smoking near woodlands.”