Nesquehoning’s emergency management coordinator is urging residents to refrain from open burning.

A burn ban in the borough was put in effect on Oct. 21 and will remain for 30 days.

“We’ve had a long, dry spell, and the woods and the leaves and everything make it very volatile,” said John McArdle on Wednesday. “The best thing people can do is to pull the leaves away from their houses and put them in an area that won’t get close to their house should something happen.”

He said he had fielded some questions regarding cooking on grills.

“Yes you can cook on a gas stove or propane stove, but open burning is what we’re looking to curtail right now,” he said.

The borough’s burn ban will remain in effect until Nov. 21, at which time the weather conditions will be evaluated to see if it should be extended or if it can be ended.

In addition to the burn ban, as part of Fire Prevention Week, which was earlier this month, McArdle reminds residents that they should change their batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and make sure to get maintenance performed on heating systems ahead of the cold weather.