KNOXVILLE (WATE) – Gov. Bill Haslam has proclaimed a regional burn ban on 51 counties in Tennessee, including every county in the East Tennessee area, due to ongoing drought and destructive wildfires.

Residents are not permitted to conduct any open-air burning. The ban includes campfires and burning of brush, vegetation, household waste or construction debris and remains in place until December 15. The governor’s ban includes all municipalities within those counties. Violation is punishable as a Class A misdemeanor with a fine of $2,500 and/or up to 11 months, 29 days in jail.

State forestry officials are battling 67 wildfires across nearly 16,000 acres in Tennessee. A state of emergency issued by the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency remains in effect.Counties under the regional burn ban: