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"It was fire, after fire, after fire."
Lawrence Park Fire Chief Joe Crotty hasn't seen anything like this since the 1980s.
"[It] certainly has been a dry summer," Crotty said. "To put a little more salt in the wound, it certainly has been a dry fall."
A burn ban has been issued in the tri-county area, effective in Erie County until Nov. 19. Warren County is lasting until Dec. 4, while Crawford County goes until Dec. 6. These dates could be subject to change.
The ordinance limits open burning, which includes burning materials like garbage, leaves and debris outdoors in barrels, fire rings or on the ground. Campfires within campgrounds are still permitted, but only in fire rings with a five-foot area cleared of flammable materials around them.
Crawford County Commissioner Scott Schell has been speaking extensively with local fire departments, and he says they are the ones who urged county officials to put the bans in place. They also encourage to stop burning of any kind, even if it is technically permitted.
"It's really getting quite taxing," Schell said. "This is dangerous. This could cause the loss of a home, of a farm [or] life."
Even though the region witnessed rain on Wednesday, authorities say the ban is still in effect and does not automatically go away because of precipitation.
Erie New Now's First Warning Weather team has been tracking the conditions. Heading into the weekend the winds could exceed 30 miles per hour, presenting a high risk for burning.
"All it takes is just a little gust of wind, and that small fire can ultimately spread to a big wildfire that quickly rages out of control," Meteorologist Dakota Hunter said.
Local law enforcement is enforcing the ban, with violators being able to face financial penalties as a result: fines up to $100 for the first offense, $200 for a second offense and $300 for subsequent violations.
"The best way to put out a fire is to prevent it from happening," Crotty said.