Burning without a permit could cost you $50 or up to 30 days in jail. But if you burn during a burn ban, you could pay up to $2,500 in fines and spend a year in jail.

“Any open burning we’ll put it that way. Any type of open burning. We don’t want them burn in pits that are open that they are burning wood or debris in. We don’t want that going on right now,” said Gatlinburg Fire Chief Charlies Cole.

State forester Nathan Waters said it’s up to the prosecutors and the counties on how strict they want to be when levying fines. Areas that could see more damage tend be more aggressive.