The Town of Greeneville will not be issuing burn permits until sufficient rainfall has been received, according to a memo released Saturday.
In the memo, county Emergency Management director Heather Sipe said that the fire danger risk has been moderate to high on most days due to the county being in drought conditions, combined with low humidity. Sipe added that the rain forecast for today is not sufficient to reduce the drought level.
The National Weather Service in Morristown reports that for September and October, Chattanooga is at its driest since 1938 and Knoxville is at its driest on record dating to 1871. The Tri-Cities is at its driest since 1963.
After the early chances of rain this week, little to no rainfall is expected through the first week of November, according to the Weather Service.
