PRINCE EDWARD – County supervisors last month declared a local emergency and instituted a ban on open-air fires. On Tuesday, they agreed to lift the local emergency and repeal the burn ban.

“We talked to Forestry folks and, as you can see by your grass growing…everything's greened up now and Forestry felt that we could lift the ban at this point,” County Planning Director Jonathan Pickett told Supervisors Tuesday night.

Recent rains have helped.

Supervisors agreed to the emergency ordinance, effective July 14, to prohibit all outdoor fires on public and private property including camp fires (except those within a grill or stove designed and used for food preparation and contain fuel and fire within a metal or masonry container) with the exception of those authorized and issued a County permit.

The emergency ordinance was set to expire 60 days from its enactment unless it was lifted or advertised and approved following a public hearing.