LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — A Laurel County man has been arrested for violating a burn ban that was put in place this past week.

On Friday afternoon, a deputy noticed a large amount of smoke behind three businesses in London, Kentucky.

The deputy radioed to let the fire department know about the fire, then went to check it out.

Police said that the deputy found Thomas Saylor, 44, sitting in the middle of that fire, eating a hamburger.

The deputy pulled Saylor out of the fire against his will and then learned that he had been burning leaves.

"We really think that if it could have gotten out of hand, that there could have been a lot of property damage, maybe injury or even death," said Deputy Gilbert Acciardo.

Saylor was charged with violating the burn ban, resisting arrest and public intoxication.