At an emergency meeting convened by the Chester County Department of Emergency Services, the Chester County Commissioners have declared a countywide 30-day open burn ban, effective through Monday, Nov. 24.
The County declaration comes at the recommendation of Department of Emergency Services leaders and county fire officials, based on current and forecasted weather conditions, as well as the recent increase in brush fires across the county.
Burn ban in effect in Chester County.
Chester County Department of Emergency Services Director Bill Messerschmidt said, “Wildfire potential is currently very high throughout the county because of the drought, winds, dry fuels, and fluctuating temperatures. This temporary open burn ban will significantly help to alleviate pressure on our fire services, and we are asking all residents and businesses to honor and adhere to it, especially when it comes to the seasonal burning of leaves and yard waste.”
The open burn ban includes open burning of any combustible material outdoors in either a burn barrel (screened or unscreened), fire ring, fire pit, or on the ground. This includes the burning of garbage, leaves, grass, twigs, litter, paper, and vegetation from land that has been cleared.
“The lack of rainfall, low humidity, and sunny and windy days have increased the chances of forest and brush fires, and our emergency responders have seen an increase in brush fires over the past few weeks. Current weather forecasts show that a high fire danger will continue across Chester County and the southeast region,” added Messerschmidt.
All county first responder leaders have been informed of the open burn ban including the County Fire Chief and Police Chief associations, municipal fire marshals, municipal emergency management coordinators, and the Pennsylvania State Police Troop J.
Elizabeth Moro, at podium, calls for an end to gun violence in a bid to unseat incumbent Republican state Rep. Craig Williams, R-160.
Elizabeth Moro, the Democrat challenging incumbent Republican Craig Williams for state representative of the 160th Legislative District called for sensible gun laws during a brief campaign rally. The issue of guns is the issue she and other speakers used against Williams during a campaign event on Friday at Brandywine Summit on Route 202 in Chadds Ford Township..
Moro was joined by Fred Guttenberg — whose daughter was killed in a mass shooting at Parkland High School in Florida in 2018 — by state Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-165, of Springfield, and by CeaseFire PA Executive Director Adam Garber.
Moro spoke briefly, saying she watched “in terror” the news reports about the shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado. That was 1999 right after Moro’s daughter was born.
“I remember calling my dad, sobbing for those children and all children,” she said. “That was 25 years ago. “I know if my father were still here, he would be alongside me in this effort because as a soldier, he would never want to see the weapons of war used against civilians in these tragedies. So along with all the responsible gun owners in my district, you have my commitment that we will join in your effort to build a country and a Pennsylvania free of gun violence.”
Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter was killed during a high school shooting in Parkland, Fla. in 2018, said down-ballot voting is crucial.
In a brief interview after the speakers, Moro said, “We’re not against the Second Amendment. We are for the Second Amendment. We’re talking about is responsible ownership and about not having “ghost guns” [homemade firearms] and these little switches that turn everything into machine guns. We want to make sure our communities are safe. No one’s trying to take away guns; it’s just trying to curtail the violence by creating responsible legislation,” she said.
She was asked why so many, if not the bulk of mass shootings happen in gun-free zones, such as schools.
“There’s no way to protect people if these weapons are out in regular circulation. What we saw in one school that happened recently was that a student walked into school with it. So, if these weapons are present in the wrong hands, they’re going to be dangerous,” Moro said.
She continued by saying that accidents were the leading cause of children’s deaths when she was young, but seat belt laws, airbags and other things done through legislatures corrected that.
“No one took away cars and said you can’t drive a car. They just asked for them to be used safely. If we take away some of the division of this issue and ask, ‘Don’t we want our communities to be safe, and then have a conversation of how we get there?’ I think that’s where we are. But if you have individuals like Mr. Williams, who’s already made his opinions known. It’s not going anywhere. And we need to go somewhere.”
Guttenberg said he’s been traveling the country talking to people about gun violence and advocating for candidates who want to enact laws that he and others say will cut down on mass shootings.
He said he worked to get President Joe Biden elected, and to get Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro elected, and to get legislators into office who would work with Biden and Shapiro.
“Down ballot is a really big deal…If we vote, we win. It’s that simple. Listen, I don’t have to attach a name to the statements that I’m going to say right now: If you want to reduce gun violence here and across the country, you know you need to vote, and you know who you need to vote for. If you want to protect the environment, you know you need to vote, and you know who you need to vote for. If you want to protect bodily autonomy, you know you need to vote, and you know who you need to vote for. If you want to protect your right to be able to vote in future elections, you need to vote and you know who you need to vote for.”
O’Mara has been in the state House of Representatives since being elected in 2018 and said she’s been working on an Extreme Risk Protection Order bill [AKA Red Flag law] that has passed 22 other states, adding that research indicates one life is saved for every 17 ERPOS introduced. The bill has passed in 22 other states and “has proven to save lives,” and added that Williams offered an amendment.
She said the Democrats worked with Williams to accept his amendment, did so and he agreed to vote in favor but changed his mind an hour before the vote.
The thrust of the rally to defeat Williams.
“We are working so hard to get Elizabeth Moro in Harrisburg…We don’t need people that are going to tell us they’re going to stand up for the right thing to do, but then cave to political pressure. We need people who are bold, with backbone, and who are willing to stand up for Pennsylvanians, and that is why we need Elizabeth Moro,” O’Mara said
Garber, too, spoke out against Williams:
“[He talks a lot about gun violence. He talks about crime where I live in South Philadelphia. He talks about what’s happening there, and he says, ‘I’m here to solve the problem.’ And then he says, ‘No, no, no, someone should be able to make a machine gun with $20.’ That’s not acceptable. He says, ‘No, no, no, I’m with law enforcement,’ but when the Police Chiefs Association and the Philadelphia police commissioner says, ‘I need your support to go after ghost guns,’ he votes against them, and … even when we try to work with him, because we are not against compromise, even when we try to work with him, he does not follow through.”
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
