Get to know burn bans in your state and prevent wildfires

Dry air, fire weather risks and pervasive drought have led to burn bans across the Philadelphia region. The goal of these bans is to prevent wildfires and brush fires, which are almost entirely human-caused. Smokey Bear has his catchphrase for a reason.
Almost our entire viewing area is under a burn ban, though definitions of what is and isn’t allowed may vary in your area.
Pay attention to the rules in your area because violations could carry civil and/or criminal punishments.
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources prohibited all fires in state parks and forests on Tuesday, Nov. 5 until further notice.
Other counties have enacted burn bans over the past weeks, including most recently in Northampton County.
Under a burn ban, garbage, leaves, grass, twigs, litter, paper or any other debris can not be burned outdoors, whether in a burn barrel, fire ring or on the ground.
The ban doesn’t apply to propane gas stoves, charcoal grills or tobacco. A campfire can be made in a fire ring that confines and contains the fire.
Here’s a full list of the counties with burn bans in Pennsylvania:
“If you plan to burn, be sure to check with your local authorities to confirm burning is permitted,” DCNR says. “Local municipalities and county offices may have additional burning restrictions or ban information.”
You can track restrictions in New Jersey on the New Jersey Forest Fire Service’s website.
All three regions of the state – North, South and Central – are under “extreme” fire danger, the highest possible rating, on Saturday. Multiple massive wildfires are burning in the state.
The NJFFS said a Stage 3 campfire restriction is in effect. This means all fires in wooded areas are prohibited unless they are in an elevated, propane, gas or electric stove. No charcoal fires are allowed.
The Delaware State Fire Marshal enacted a burn ban on Oct. 15 for all outdoor burning. Here’s what’s forbidden under the ban:
You can light a campfire only if it’s in an area cleared of combustible material and surrounded by a ring of non-combustible material at least 3 feet by 3 feet. Use the campfire for cooking only.
Grills and hibachis are allowed in areas cleared of surrounding combustible material.
Wildfires can start from carelessly discarded matches, cigarette butts and campfire ash. Other causes could be machinery, like a lawnmower or leafblower that malfunctions and provides a spark. 
A car backfiring or scraping the ground could also provide the spark.
If you live close to the wildland-urban interface especially, you should take steps to protect your home. The PA DCNR recommends these steps:
A much more detailed guide is available on the National Fire Protection Association’s website.